s A l v eS a L V e O N T H e S T R a S S e N D e R R Ö M e R

Here Europe is investing in the rural economy

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Welcome to the Strassen der Römer

C o n t e n t s

03 Welcome to the Strassen der Römer04 Signs of Roman life10 Mosella12 Wanderlust in all its variations14 Celebrating with the Romans16 Interview with the Roman "gladiator Hercules"19 enjoy Roman delights22 Wine in an ancient "kilner jar"22 Cheers to Rufus, the wine merchant25 ancient motorways28 Walking on thematic trails34 Maps40 all the attractions at a glance45 Impressum45 Tips tour by car

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n o w h e r e e l s e n o r t h o f t h e A l p s i s t h e r e s u C h A C o n C e n t r A t i o n o f r e l i C t s f r o m t h e r o m A n e m p i r e

here begins your journey into the ancient world, into the heart of Gaul, part of the Roman Empire. Mighty Roman emperors ruled in Trier, the first vines were cultivated in the Mosel valley, and major routes ran over the highlands of the Eifel, Hunsrück and Hochwald to the most important cities of the age. Some 100 remains from the period are still visible and are testimony to the dense population and great wealth, are evidence of the abundance of the fine Roman way of life. It is an archaeological park of extraordinary dimensions and rich variety.

And today? It is a long time since a Roman emperor ruled in Trier. But the heart of Europe beats in Luxembourg. It was here on the Mosel that the Schengen Agreement was signed, opening up Europe’s internal frontiers and giving a whole new flair to the border region.

The imposing old buildings of the imperial residence are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attract innumerable tourists. The wines from the Mosel are among the finest in the world, and naturally taste particularly good when enjoyed where the vines grow. The flat river valleys of the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer are particularly suitable for enjoying

cycle tours. One of the most beautiful long-distance footpaths in all of Germany, the Saar-Hunsrück Trail, takes you through the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park. Volcanic activity has leftits mark on the Eifel holiday region, and although the peaks and craters are long since inactive,they are now home to lakes, some of which invite you to bathe in them, and form an impressivebackdrop for an active holiday. Today numerous premium and thematic footpaths provide accessto the ancient cultural landscape of the Strassen der Römer, and let you relax in the variousnature parks.

The towns in the region are modern, but also have a deep history. They are all worth visiting and provide an excellent opportunity to enjoy a gentle shopping trip. Many of the sites in the holiday region have been listed by UNESCO as being of particular significance, for example the Roman monuments in Trier and Igel, the fortification and old town of the banking metropolis of Luxembourg, the Völkinger Hütte with its unique ensemble of the old iron works, and the Bliesgau Biosphere Reserve.

In short: a holiday on the Strassen der Römer means relaxing tours of discovery in an area of special natural interest, taking in culture across borders, while enjoying the best wines and the numerous restaurants, from the down-to-earth to award-winning cuisine.

Let yourself be surprised …

more information is to be found on the internet at www.strassen-der-roemer.eu

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Welcome to the Strassen der Römer

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Precious objects that belonged to the owner of the villa at Perl-Borg; right: the Porta Nigra

ALONG THE MOSEL, SAAR ANd RHINE, THE ROMAN EMPIRE HAS LEFT MORE NUMEROUS ANd VARIEd TRACES THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN NORTHWEST EUROPE.

S I g N S O F R O M a N L I F e

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Top: The temple in Tawern, mosaic in Otrang Roman villa (Fliessem)Centre: Constaninian painted ceiling in the Museum am Dom (Trier); Dalheim Roman theatre (Luxembourg); underground heating and service passages in the Imperial baths (Kaiserthermen) (Trier)Bottom: Fragment of wall painting from Kenn Roman villaRight: Roman aqueduct (Mechernich-Vussem); Constantine’s basilica (Trier)

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nderfloor heating, winemaking, aqueducts and road

networks – the Romans brought many things with them when they

arrived and settled on the Mosel, Saar and Rhine over 2,000 years ago.

On its victorious campaigns Rome did more than just extend her

empire and move its frontiers. Its rulers were like missionaries in the

way that they brought the blessings of Roman culture to the regions

they conquered. Furthermore, Romans who moved to the new

provinces did not want to give up the moderns comforts and their

customary way of life, and so made sure that their new home was

“typically Roman” – thus leaving behind numerous traces from all

aspects of their life: transport infrastructure, residential areas, large

agricultural installations and palaces with running water, underfloor

and wall heating, as well as impressive artistic decoration, streets and

roadside settlements, mines and quarries, temples and burials, baths

and aqueducts. In addition, the showcases of museums house

jewellery, vases, bowls, works of art and all sorts of everyday articles.

all of these sights provide very different insights into the life of the

Romans.

Soon after their arrival in the Celtic lands, the Romans already started

to extend the existing road network and built metalled roads to

facilitate troop movements and as trading routes. Some of them still

survive today and bear witness to the logistics and engineering ability

of the Romans. as if drawn with a ruler, some of them run straight as a

die through woods and across plains, or cross rivers and valleys on

bridges. a number of them are still used by traffic today – for example

the Roman bridge in Trier, which is part of the UNeSCO World

Heritage Site. The Romans procured their building materials nearby,

and numerous quarries and mines are testimony to the industry and

the technical abilities of the time: the site at Meurin is a particularly

good example, and the emilianus mine is well preserved. Of course,

the stone was not only used to build bridges and streets, but was also

used for buildings such as the famous Porta Nigra in Trier. along the

roads, at a distance of more or less one day’s journey, and at important

crossroads, vici were established, roadside settlements and ancient

services. at the site of the excavations in the vicus of Tabernae,

modern Tawern, you can see what sort of facilities and buildings were

important then. There were smithies, storage facilities for provisions,

and wells. Part of the settlement at Swarzenacker has been reconstruc-

ted and provides a vivid impression of the old trading and staging post.

even in those days, people who stopped over briefly in such vici

wanted to be entertained. as well as taverns, there were sometimes

theatres such as the one in the vicus at Dalheim in Luxembourg. Some

of the houses in the vici were quite comfortably furnished and

equipped with underfloor and wall heating, as well as elaborate baths.

U

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baths not only served as places for people to wash and groom

themselves, they were also social meeting points. Thanks to the many

ruins, for example the Kaiser- and Barbarathermen in Trier, we can

reconstruct the elaborate bathing ritual: first you went into the

lukewarm tepidarium, then into the hot calidarium, before finally

cooling off in the frigidarium. Wellness was already of great

importance to the Romans. The many sanctuaries and remains of

temples in the region reflect the important role that religion played

for the Romans and Celts at the time. Before Christianity established

itself, and the emperor Constantine donated Trier Cathedral, a

multi-cultural religious community lived here, worshipping and

tolerating numerous gods side by side. There were also many different

forms of burial and types of tombs: there were burial mounds,

funerary temples, extravagant tombstones, ash cists and stone

sarcophagi. But overall they all had one thing in common: they were

highly visible, situated along roads and at exposed sites. grave goods

such as pottery, jewellery, weapons and tools provide a glimpse of

what during their lifetime was important to those buried here. and

that was not all that different to how it is today, as can be seen from

the various different attractions on the Rhine, Mosel and Saar.

Alexandra Wolters

imilarly luxurious installations are also to be found in the

remains of the rural farmsteads, some of which were almost palace-like

in their dimensions. as a rule it was the Roman families who lived in

the stylish central buildings, which were decorated with mosaics,

while their slaves and employees lived in the more simple quarters.

The stalls and storage buildings were near the fields and pastures.

Many of the villas had underground cellars where provisions such as

grain, fruit, vegetables and meat were stored, as well as the wine that

the Romans made on the Mosel. The reconstruction of the villa at

Borg provides a detailed impression of what life was like then in the

countryside. Here you can enjoy a Roman kitchen, baths and gardens,

and even eat in a Roman tavern, while the villas at Otrang and Nennig

have splendid mosaics. Some of the rural establishments had their own

wineries, for wine was one of the Romans’ favourite drinks, as

numerous finds in the region confirm. Villas with their own baths also

always had their own water supplies, which were part of an enormous

network that reveals the full extent of the Romans’ skills. The water

flowed not just underground, but also across the countryside and over

wide valleys on high aqueducts. The incline was exactly calculated

metre for metre so that the water always flowed in the right direction.

Towns and farms were supplied with water, and baths operated. Public

S

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Left: funerary temple in Bech-Kleinmacher, mosaic in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Trier, European Culture Park Bliesbruck-Reinheim, temple of the Matrons in Görres-burg, Nettersheim; top: object from a burial in St. Aldegud, now in the Landesmuseum, Koblenz, Roman villa urbana in Longuich

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had crossed over swift-flowing

Nahe's cloudy stream and gazed with awe upon

the ramparts lately thrown round ancient

Bingen, where gaul once matched the Roman

rout at Cannae and where her slaughtered

hordes lay scattered over the country-side

untended and unwept. Thence onward

I began a lonely journey through pathless forest,

nor did my eyes rest on any trace of human

inhabitants. I passed Kirchberg sweltering

amid its parched fields, and Tabernae, watered

by its unfailing spring, and the lands lately

parcelled out to Sarmatian settlers. and at

length on the very verge of gallia Belgica

Prima I descry Neumagen, the famed camp

of sainted Constantine. Clearer the air which

here invests the plains and Phoebus, cloudless

now, discloses glowing heaven with his

untroubled light. No longer is the sky to seek,

shut out by the green gloom of branches

intertwined: but the free breath of transparent

day withholds not sight of the sun's pure rays

and of the aether, dazzling to the eyes.

Nay more, the whole gracious prospect made

me behold a picture of my own native land, the

smiling and well-tended country of Bordeaux -

the roofs of country-houses, perched high upon

the overhanging river-banks, the hill-sides green

with vines, and the pleasant stream of Moselle

gliding below with subdued murmuring.

Hail, river, blessed by the fields, blessed by the

husbandmen, to whom the Belgae owe the

imperial honour which graces their city, Trier:

river, whose hills are o'ergrown with Bacchus'

fragrant vines, o'ergrown, river most verdant,

thy banks with turf: ship-bearing as the sea,

with sloping waters gliding as a river, and with

thy crystal depths the peer of lakes, brooks thou

canst match for hurrying flow, cool springs

surpass for limpid draughts; one, thou hast all

that belongs to springs, brooks, rivers, lakes,

and tidal Ocean with his ebb and flow. Thou,

with calm waters onward gliding, feel'st not any

murmurs of the wind nor check from hidden

rocks; nor by foaming shallows art thou forced

to hurry on in swirling rapids, no eyots hast thou

jutting in mid-stream to thwart thy course

— lest the glory of thy due title be impaired,

if any isle sunder and stem thy flow.

For thee two modes of voyaging are appointed:

this, when boats move down thy stream with

current favouring and their oars thrash the

churned waters at full speed; that, when along

the banks, with tow-rope never slackening, the

boatmen strain on their shoulders hawsers

bound to the masts. Thyself how often dost

thou marvel at the windings of thine own stream,

and think its natural speed moves almost too

slowly ! Thou with no mud-grown sedge fringest

thy banks, nor with foul ooze o'er- spread'st thy

marge; dry is the treading down to thy water's

edge. (…) For from the topmost ridge to the foot

of the slope the river-side is thickly planted

with green vines. The people, happy in their toil,

and the restless husbandmen are busy, now on

the hill-top, now on the slope, exchanging shouts

in boisterous rivalry. Here the wayfarer tramping

along the low-lying bank, and there the

bargeman floating by, troll their rude jests at

the loitering vine-dressers; and all the hills, and

shivering woods, and channelled river, ring with

their cries.

Nor does the scenery of this region please

men alone; I can believe that here the rustic

Satyrs and the grey-eyed Nymphs meet together

on the border of the stream, when the

goat-footed Pans are seized with merry ribaldry,

and splashing in the shallows, frighten the

trembling sister-Nymphs beneath the stream,

while they thresh the water with unskilful

strokes. Oft also, when she has stolen clusters

from the inland hills, Panope, the river lady,

with a troop of Oread friends, flees the wanton

Fauns, gods of the country-side. and it is said

that when the sun's fiery orb stops in the midst

of his course, the Satyrs and the sister-Nymphs

of the crystal depths meet here beside the stream

and ply the dance in partnership, what time the

fiercer heat affords them hours set free from

mortal company. Then, wantonly frolicking amid

their native waters, the Nymphs duck the Satyrs

M O S e L L ain the waves, and slip away right through the

hands of those unskilful swimmers, as, baffled,

I had crossed over swift-flowing I had crossed over swift-flowing

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M O S e L L a

they seek to grasp their slippery limbs and,

instead of bodies, embrace yielding waves. But of

these things which no man has looked upon and

no eye beheld, be it no sin for me to speak in

part: let things secret be kept hid, and let

Reverence dwell unspied upon, in the safe-

keeping of her native streams. Yon is a sight that

may be freely enjoyed: when the azure river

mirrors the shady hill, the waters of the stream

seem to bear leaves and the flood to be all

o'ergrown with shoots of vines. What a hue is on

the waters when Hesperus has driven forward the

lagging shadows and overspreads Moselle with

the green of the reflected height! Whole hills

float on the shivering ripples: here quivers the

far-off tendril of the vine, here in the glassy flood

swells the full cluster. The deluded boatman tells

o'er the green vines - the boatman whose skiff of

bark floats on the watery floor out in mid-stream,

where the pictured hill blends with the river and

where the river joins with the edges of the

shadows. and when oared skiffs join in mimic

battle in mid-stream, how pleasing is the pageant

which this sight affords! They circle in and out,

and graze the sprouting blades of the cropped

turf along the green banks. The husbandman,

standing upon the rise of the green bank, watches

the light-hearted owners as they leap about on

stem or prow, the boyish crew straggling over the

river's wide expanse, and never feels the day is

slipping by, but puts their play before his

business, while present pleasure shuts out

past cares.

➔ t h e p o e m

“Mosella”, some 1,650 years old, is a priceless literary monument that gives us a very lively insight into the region in Roman times. It is thought to have been written about Ad 370, when Roman culture and literature enjoyed a final heyday. At the same time, the threat from the tribes who lived beyond the Rhine was omnipresent and is echoed in the first verses.The poet and scholar Ausonius was born in Bordeaux (Burdigalia) between 300 and 310, and so was already between 60 and 70 years old when he wrote the “Mosella”. In the mid-30s he practiced as a lawyer and grammarian in his home town, later as a rhetorician, and was married to the daughter of a respected senator, with whom he had three children. After he had spent some 30 years in Bordeaux as a highly regarded teacher and promoting Latin literature, in Ad 365 he was called to the imperial court in Trier by Emperor Valentinian to educate the prince Gratian. In 368 he accompanied the Emperor and his son on their campaign against the Alamanni. At the same time he embarked on a political career and in 379 he was even appointed consul. In 375 Emperor Valentinain died, and in 383 his successor Gratian was murdered. At a ripe old age Ausonius returned to Bordeaux and there wrote several late works.

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Wanderlust in all its variations

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The warm sun shines through the vines

that cover the courtyard; the contents of

the six tall-stemmed glasses glisten golden

on the simple wooden table in the traditional

rustic inn. Chance has brought the six

guests together, as they enjoy the hearty

winemaker’s specialities and recount to

each other their impressions and experiences

as they tour the varied landscape of the Saar

and Mosel, Hunsrück and eifel on foot or

bicycle, tell of the sights in the nature

reserves, half-timbered villages, castles,

monasteries and industrial monuments,

as well as the remains of the Romans

and Celts. One of the cyclists enthuses

about the discoveries he made on the

Via agrippa, one of the old Roman

roads: “Suddenly, in the middle of

the woods in the eifel, there was a

section of the ancient Langmauer.

and at one point I even saw traces of the

old roadway in the rock beside the road;

you could see the worked stones of the

arches quite clearly.” – “This time we’ve

been to see the ancient mosaic and the

Roman archaeological park at Borg”,

the other two cyclists reply. ”after that we

made a detour to Schengen. But not only

to try the Luxembourg variant of the Mosel

wines. We really wanted to see the castle

that is now a hotel and the new european

Museum.” as the wine glasses are refilled,

the hikers tell their tales. “Last year we

walked part of the Via ausonia, but this

year it was the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig that

caught our eye”, one of the women with her

rough boots smiles, “in particular the section

from Perl to

Mettlach.”

–

“The programme was a really

wonderful contrast” the other enthuses:

“The path led through vineyards and old

woodlands, across meadows of orchids, past

idyllic ponds and even a waterfall. The

passage through the wild, romantic Steinbach

Valley was particularly beautiful – and of

course there was the panorama across the

meander in the Saar.” – “I enjoyed the section

to Losheimer See most; above all because of

the Kneipp facility with the barefoot path”,

the male hiker adds. “We were on the road

for nine days all told, and covered some 14.5

kilometres on average. at grimburger Hof

we took the Trier variant. Today we’ve come

from the Ruwer Valley, and we have only an

hour or so ahead of us until we reach our

accommodation.” The cyclists also

plan to spend the night in

germany’s oldest town.

“We won’t be

back in

the

saddle until the day

after tomorrow. Then we’ll peddle gently

along the Mosel Valley – perhaps as far as

Koblenz.”

Rita Henss

i n t h e v A r i e d l A n d s C A p e s o f m o s e l ,e i f e l , h u n s r Ü C k A n d s A A r A l l k i n d s o f t r e A s u r e sA r e w A i t i n g t o b e d i s C o v e r e d .

Holidays in honour of the gods, the anniver-

saries of great battles and victories, dedication

feasts and birthdays – the calendar of Roman

festivals was long. The Romans enjoyed

celebrating whenever they could, and many of

the festivals lasted several days. entertainment

and good food played an important role in

such occasions, and depending on just what

and how large the occasion was, the festivities

could include processions and rituals, contests,

games and chariot races, theatrical performances,

poems and songs, presents and feasting.

Many of these elements are part of the Roman

festivals along the Mosel and Saar, in Saarland

Celebrating with the RomansCelebrating

Top: Roman camp on the Katzenberg; left /bottom: Roman festival at Perl-Borg villa

P a g e 14

as well as theatrical performances. against

historical backdrops such as the Roman villa in

Borg the draw of Roman times is particularly

strong. But so too food and drink let visitors

feel a little like Romans themselves: there are

not only freshly baked Roman flatbreads

with olive paste and sweet cereal porridge,

there is also sweet honeyed wine. Particular

attention is paid to employing original

methods of preparation wherever possible.

You can grind the flour yourself with heavy

millstones – tough work that in Roman times

was often done by slaves or the poorer citizens.

Trying things is an important part of Roman

festivals: for example, not only can you taste

Roman delicacies, but often you can also try

your hand at the potter’s wheel, try on a

gladiator’s equipment or a toga, forge metals,

and the eifel, when Roman festivities and

everyday life are presented and performed,

and can be experienced. In chainmail shirt

or breastplate, in toga or tunic – but always

with sandals on their feet: every year people

don the historical clothing of the Romans, in

order to bring the epoch back to life. But they

don’t only wear Roman fashion, they also be-

have according to the customs that were the

rule here in western germany some 2,000

years ago. Heroically, they fight as gladiators

in the arena, as legionaries they defeat entire

armies, forge their swords in the fire, sharpen

mighty spears, throw wine jugs on the potter’s

wheel, bake bread – and thereby transport

thousands of people to another world. The

highlights of many festivals are the

demonstrations by gladiators and legionaries,

take part in contests, or write with a stylus on

papyrus. Hands on history lessons – for child-

ren, in particular, this is an entertaining way to

learn and retain knowledge. But it is not only

during festivals that you can travel in time

along the Strassen der Römer. accurate recon-

structions of buildings and installations

provide graphic insights into Roman life.

Today many museums and archaeological

parks rely on this combination of information

and entertainment: here you can not only

marvel at the finds, but also at many technical

wonders, as well as see just how Roman

inventions worked.

Alexandra Wolters

➔ t i p : f e s t i v A l s

Schwarzenacker: every year at the beginning of May: Open day Celtic Ringwall Nonn-weiler-Otzenhausen: every other year in summer (uneven years): Celtic festivalExcavation project Roman vicus “Wares-wald”, Tholey: 4th weekend in June:Excavation festival as part of the Roman festival Römerwarte Katzenberg, Mayen:3rd weekend in July: Roman camp Archaeo-logical Park Borg Roman Villa, Perl-Borg:1st weekend in August: Roman festial, European Culture Park Bliesbruck-Reinheim, Gersheim-Reinheim: 2nd weekend in August: ancient spectacular

Information at www.strassen-der-roemer.eu

P a g e 16

We are in the amphitheatre in Trier, at

the end of the 1st century aD. Hercules the

gladiator, who also runs a school for gladiators,

is preparing himself for a forthcoming fight.

a young man, a normal citizen who is interested

in learning to be a gladiator, has obtained an

“audience” with Hercules and asks him the

questions which interest him most.

Tell me, Hercules, is it true that a successful

gladiator is surrounded by money, fame and

riches?

Well, my young friend, there are differences.

The most important point is whether you enter

the arena as a slave, or as a free man, as I do.

And have you attained wealth and fame?

Let me put it this way: I do all right. But

wealth is perhaps something of an exaggeration.

after all, don’t forget that every time you fight,

you have to negotiate your salary anew

with whoever is engaging you. Some

are good at it, others less so. and as for

fame: that really depends on whom

you want to impress.

What do you mean?

Well, there is one thing that you must

understand: as soon as you’ve signed

the contract for a gladiatorial contest

you lose your citizenship. Some

members of your family won’t even

want to have anything more to do

with you, for gladiators have a rather

ambivalent reputation. On the other

hand women will flock to you. They associate

strength, courage, and of course virility with this

profession. To put it bluntly: in the arena you

are the people’s hero, they cheer you on and

are proud when you leave it as the victor. But

outside the gates of the arena people sometimes

don’t know you any more, in particular

members of the upper social classes.

But you’re a hero in the arena! How have

managed to get so far?

Hard work and hard training. But most

important of all is the good training I received

in the ludus, one of the large, highly respected

gladiatorial schools in Rome. There I learned

the essential skills that I need and use today

when I fight – and which means that I am

specialised in the role of the provocator.

What exactly is that role?

Like many others it is derived from a military

model. as the name suggests, as provocator I

assume the offensive at close quarters and adopt

a very dynamic position. My aim is always to

stab my opponent so that he can no longer fight,

and my rectangular shield is my offensive

weapon.

And what does the rest of your equipment look

like?

I have a short sword with a blade some 30-40

centimetres long, or a long dagger, wear a visor,

a breastplate, a greave, protection on my right

arm and the smooth helmet of the provocator.

Fictional interview with Jan Krüger, talking to Susanne Rendenbach

INTeRVIeW WITH THe ROMaN gL aDIaTOR HeRCULeS

Tell me, Hercules, is it true that a successful

gladiator is surrounded by money, fame and

riches?

Well, my young friend, there are differences.

The most important point is whether you enter

the arena as a slave, or as a free man, as I do.

And have you attained wealth and fame?

Let me put it this way: I do all right. But

wealth is perhaps something of an exaggeration.

after all, don’t forget that every time you fight,

you have to negotiate your salary anew

with whoever is engaging you. Some

are good at it, others less so. and as for

fame: that really depends on whom

you want to impress.

What do you mean?

Well, there is one thing that you must

with you, for gladiators have a rather

P a g e 17

➔ t i p

Jan Krüger is one of the few “real” gladiators in Germany and runs a school for gladiators in Trier. Ho offers groups a 75-minute long introduction to the equipment, training, mental preparation and fighting techniques. Krüger is an actor and gained his enthusiasm for Roman history and the high art of the gladiator during his appearances at the Trier Adventure Performances and “Bread and Circuses”.

Information at www.strassen-der-roemer.eu

And do you pray to a god before you enter the

arena?

No, I don’t do that. above all I believe in

myself. But many other gladiators pray to Mars.

Are you never afraid during a fight?

Young man, fear is a particularly bad

companion. Fear lames you. What I sometimes

feel when I have a strong opponent is respect.

That stops you losing your head when you make

the next move.

And what’s it like, standing down there in the

arena when the people cheer you on?

That is an indescribable

feeling, young fellow.

You should try to find

that out for yourself. But for now

I will only reveal so much: to prove how

good and superior you are, and at the end

to receive the victor’s palm from whoever is

giving the games, is one of the most precious

feelings imaginable, and one that you soon

get addicted to.

INTeRVIeW WITH THe ROMaN gL aDIaTOR HeRCULeS

P a g e 18

Nothing sticks in the mind better than when you discover, experience, create and try it

out yourself. Why not learn from history? Only if you understand the past properly can

you learn from its successes and failures, and meaningfully shape the future. It’s just like

education for sustainable development. Museums, monuments, excavations – the places

of learning outside the school on the Strassen der Römer offer activities for all ages.

Whether it’s a project for the kindergarten or the school, excursions or trips with the class –

at www.strassen-der-roemer.eu you can choose from a wide

range of educational possibilities.

This makes Roman timesreally exciting

FOR SCHOOLS ANd KINdERGARTENS

Dig up the past with your own handsSlip into historical roles

Play and learn about Roman everyday lifeCook old recipes and taste the past

Make your own Roman artwork

Europ. Culture Park

Europ. Culture Park

Vulkanpark

Pützlöcher

Roman Museum Schwarzenacker

Celtic fortifi cation

P a g e 19P a g e 19

e N J OY RO M a N D e L I g H T S

Wild companions with long hair,

hard-fighting roughnecks from the

north who time and again made

trouble for the greeks, Romans

and other civilisations – this is the

picture that many people have of

the Celts. This is certainly partly

due to the fact that the historians

in the ancient world were greeks

and Romans, while we have no

texts written by the Celts. Julius

Caesar’s account of his campaigns,

“The gallic War”, has done much

to shape the picture. But the Celts

probably would have described

themselves rather more favourably:

as excellent miners and metal

workers, brave warriors, fine

horsemen, and people with style

and taste. and they had a high

opinion of the delights of the

regions south of the alps. Several

centuries before Julius Caesar set

out to conquer gaul in the year 57

BC, the Celts living along the

Mosel and Saar, in the Hunsrück

and eifel enjoyed southern luxury.

By the bucket.

N

P a g e 20

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umerous finds dating back to 500 BC from the area between the Hunsrück, eifel and mouth of the Mosel confirm that wine buckets

made of bronze were popular among the Celts here. Known as situlas, they could take between three and 13 litres and found their way over the

alps from Lombardy and the land of the etruscans into the households of wealthy Celts, before finally being placed in their elaborately furnished

graves. While they were alive, their owners impressed their guests at feasts with such luxurious wine vessels. Some 450 years later their successors,

the Treveri and Mediomatrici, fought bravely against the invading legions, but after the battle against Rome had been lost, and with the arrival of

the Roman soldiers, settlers and officials, Roman products, food and customs soon established themselves in the land of the Treveri. Vinum and

cervisia may have made it easier for some Celts to put up with the rule of the victors, but if we look at the situation more soberly, Caesar’s thirst for

expansion brought to the region between the Saar and the Rhine, the Vosges and the eifel, an unparalleled cultural and economic boom.

a network of well-built roads connected towns and villages. Towns such as Trier, Metz and Koblenz were founded, with magnificent buildings,

baths, theatres and sports facilities. Temples at important cross-roads and prominent sites served the worship of Roman and Celtic gods. People

from the entire empire – from the Near east to North africa, from Spain to Britain, came to the area with the legions, the merchants and

imperial administration, bringing their customs with them and mixing with the gallic inhabitants.

The culinary spectrum was also added to. There was not just roast wild boar: large country estates (villa rustica) guaranteed the large-scale

production of food. Harvesting machines were even employed. Domesticated plants from the south – almonds, chestnuts, figs – were now grown

here, and the local cuisine benefitted from impulses from the entire Roman empire, from the Black Sea to the atlantic. Oysters were much in

demand, travelling hundreds of kilometres from the sea to arrive on the table. “garum”, also known as “Liquamen”, a sauce made from fermented

fish, was a popular all round seasoning, a kind of ancient “Maggi”. Old recipes today inspire chefs in the region to create their own dishes,

dishes that the ancient Romans and the “occupied” Celts would have greatly appreciated.

But the longest-lasting souvenir that the Romans brought to the realm of the Mosel and the Saar is surely the vine. Today vines still dominate large

swathes of the area between Metz and Koblenz, and wine was the product that was most often mentioned in accounts of the Mosel region in the

ancient world. even today numerous finds and monuments bring the wine culture of the Mosel during the Roman period back to life. Wine was

an everyday drink for the Romans. The large towns with their quickly growing populations required a good supply of more than drinking water

and food. The demand for wine was large too, for the legionaries received it as parts of their rations. Perhaps the Treveri and other Celts had

already tried their hand at winemaking, but it was with the arrival of the Romans that professional winemaking was finally established. They built

wineries with huge presses directly at the foot of the steep slopes that today still ensure an excellent microclimate for growing vines. Boats trans-

ported the must and the wine to the large warehouses in the towns. The wine merchants were wealthy people who built impressive monuments

during their lifetimes, while the slopes of the vineyards were highly prized sites for a last resting place: Roman funerary temples and graves in the

vineyards are today popular destinations for ramblers who there enjoy the unrivalled views of a 2,000 year old cultural landscape.

Ansgar Schmitz

N

Villa Borg

The entire Mosel region is full of friendly travellers who enjoy the fruity, mineral wines of the area between the vines and the Roman ruins.

But what will the wine the Romans made nearly 2000 years ago have tasted like – nobody asks this important question. Really nobody? No!

Driven by an apparently never-ending zest for action and thirst for knowledge, a village on the Middle Mosel populated by stubborn amateur

historians has refused to give up the quest for the answer to this question…

The scene is Wintrich near Bernkastel, the Roman Vindriacum. The Vigilia Romana Vindriacum e.V., a group of amateur historians who bring

back to life the military and civilian world of Roman Late antiquity, has undertaken an interesting experiment: the production and storage of

wine in amphoras based on ancient originals (s. ill. right). In the ancient world amphoras were used to transport a whole range of products across

the sea, along rivers and over land, but also to store supplies. There are no reports of how well the “kilner jars” of the ancient world did the job.

Believe it or not, the Vigilia worked tirelessly on the project for nearly four years: with the expert support of archaeologists, they worked out their

own project plan especially for the experiment. Finally the Vigilia sets out on the Roman wine ship Stella Noviomagi in order to present their

triumph to the unsuspecting flocks of tourists. Just like in Late antiquity, the group from Wintrich row down the Mosel with their amphoras, bring

the pottery vessels on land at Bernkastel and bring pleasure to the guests from all over the world with a refreshing drink. That is the proof: not

only did the Romans make good wine on the Mosel, they were also able to transport the drink to their customers over long distances. Perhaps even

as far as Rome? Maybe the brave Vigilia Vindriacum has a new task…

It is the late 4th century aD. In a vineyard in

Thiergarten in Trier, in the middle of the

temple complex in altbachtal, we meet the wine

merchant Rufus. While Rufus’s employees are

busily securing the heavy oak cask containing

the wine produced at the Thiergarten vinyard

on the four-wheeled ox-drawn cart ready for

transport, Rufus answers the inquisitive cellar

master’s questions - over a glass of wine, of

course.

Well, now you’ve bought my best wine!

Where are you actually going to take it, where

are your other customers?

With this delicious – and god knows it really is

– white juice of the vine, we’re heading off to

the vicus at Belginum, on the aussonius Road,

in the highlands of the Hunsrück. But I also

supply my customers along the wonderful

Mosel, as well as in the Saar valley, in the

Vordereifel, in Tholey, and of course in Trier.

And you travel all that way with an ox-cart?

Yes, normally these castrated, powerful draft

animals transport my goods to their destination.

But along the Mosel I sometimes also use a boat,

but that can be tricky, depending on the current.

Is it safe on the roads?

In what sort of state are they?

It seems that you never get out of the cellar!

Otherwise you’d know that the road network

is in an excellent state. It was us Roman soldiers

– and I was one until a few years ago – who

worked so very hard to build all the roads.

They are the backbone of the Roman empire

and are the foundation on which the army and

merchants can build their work. Have you

never heard that, little cellar master?

Ansgar Schmitz

Wine in an ancient “kilner jar”

CHeeRS TO RUFUS, THe WINe MeRCHaNT

rufus comes to you too!

“Rufus ante Portas” is an amusing and cheeky theatrical monologue for social occasions both inside and outside of Roman attractions. If you’re looking for an entertaining alternative to the usual guided tour, then you must book it. The hard-drinking Roman wine merchant Rufus is played by a professional actor. He used to be a soldier in an infamous elite unit of the Roman army in the struggle against the barbarians, but later settled down to become a wealthy wine merchant, turning his passion into his profession: “Now I can respectably drink my way up and down the Mosella.” But how did this Roman land in the present day? What magic can help him to get back again?

Booking conditions, performance dates and trailer can be found at www.strassen-der-roemer.eu.

➔ t i p

P a g e 23

Wine in an ancient “kilner jar”

Of course I have – but are you safe when you

transport your goods over land?

Naturally you can’t be a tomfool in this

profession. However, it’s not equally dangerous

everywhere. But I love my Mosella, and am

happiest when travelling along the river. But

the roads over the highlands of the Hunsrück

are safer. The never-ending horizon over the

ridge provides me with a better views of the

land than the many curves of the path along

the Mosella. What’s more, I’m not on my own

but mostly join a troop of soldiers in order to

make the journey safer. and other merchants

do the same. anyway, the army is one of my

most important customers, for every soldier

gets a ration of a litre of wine a day, and that’s

good enough reason for liking having the

comrades as company.

CHeeRS TO RUFUS, THe WINe MeRCHaNT

By Annette Köwerich (text) / Hans-Georg Eiben (photos)

enjoying like the romansA culinary journey along the “straßen der römer”

The cookery and culture guide “Genießen wie die Römer” is intended as an invitation to a cultural and culinary journey of discovery along the “Straßen der Römer”. More than 50 regional producers and restaurants, who today still cultivate the old Latin heritage, present themselves and their own personal favourite Roman recipes and ingredients. And for those who aft er a visit to one of the hospitable houses develop a taste for more, there is an extensive section of recipes that gives the reader the chance to cook and taste their way back into Antiquity.

154 pages / over 300 photosISBN 978-2-87954-165-5, Price: 19,80 €

➔ b o o k t i p

And the soldiers were always

able to stop robbers?

Once or twice I’ve got into

trouble when I was travelling over

land without soldiers as company

and was ambushed by a band of

robbers. They were after the

coins that I’d previously received

as payment. as well as the other

things that I normally carry in

the leather pouch hanging from

my belt.

And that would be?

The leather belt itself has a

buckle and a military decoration,

and is extremely valuable. and

then I had a number of my most

valuable brooches in the pouch.

I like to show them to interested

customers and sell them if the

price is right. But thanks to the

ruffians, I had to part with the jewellery

involuntarily.

As for parting: are you on the road all year,

and leave your wife at home?

Of course my wife stays at home. Or can you

imagine her walking along behind the oxcart?

But I’m only ever on the road for a few weeks,

and in the winter, when the roads are full of ice

and snow, I stay at home. That’s why the coins

have to jingle first.

And are they jingling well?

Look at me: do I look like a poor man?

No, god knows I can’t complain. My revenues

are excellent, and my profession is highly

respected. For nothing in the world would I

want to give it up and no longer be on the road,

enjoying the contact with so many people and

my beloved wine. Cheers!

Fictional interview with Dr. Rosemarie Cordie,talking to Susanne Rendenbach.

enjoying like the romans

P a g e 24

enjoying culture should always be understood

as a holistic concept of pleasure. We live in an

age when we are permanently bombarded by

medial stimuli, so why hurry from attraction

to attraction? “Time travel” on the Strassen der

Römer means: travelling with lots of time

for companionship and discovering things

together. Here, in an impressive cultural

landscape, you can experience history with all

your senses – whether actively on a guided cycle

or walking tour, or more comfortably and well

cared for on a coach. Town or country? On the

Strassen der Röemer you don’t have to make

up your mind, both are so close together. But,

of course, when enjoying culture you shouldn’t

neglect the culture of enjoyment! The regional

cuisine in the border triangle germany –

Luxembourg – France is reason enough to

explore the area, and the food is complemented

excellently by the fine wines. The Mosel is one

extraordinary places for unforgettable experiences

➔ t i p

It’s not just groups who can book group offers! For example, treat yourself to your own personal guide, or wine and culture ambassador. It doesn’t come more individual.

www.strassen-der-roemer.eu

TIME TRAVEL FOR VISITING GROUPS

of the best wine-producing regions in the

world and can be explored at a high level of

excellence with specially qualified guides,

known as wine and culture ambassadors.

Or how about pampering your palate à la

apicius? You can find over 70 informative

and entertaining possibilities for groups at

www.strassen-der-roemer.eu: academically

sound guided tours, guided cycle and walking

tours, archaeological excavation seminars,

living history and historical theatre. Wine

and culinary delights have their place as well.

and what is new: for cross-border guided tours,

certified “guides for the greater region” are

now available (www.tourismus-grossregion.eu).

P a g e 25

aNCIeNT MOTORWaYSA l l r o A d s l e A d t o r o m e . t h i s f A m o u s Q u o t e , e v e n i f i t o n ly d A t e s b A C k t o t h e m i d d l e A g e s , o f C o u r s e A l s o w o r k s t h e o t h e r w A y r o u n d .

extraordinary places for unforgettable experiences

Page 24: Meurin Roman mine (Kretz); Porta Nigra (Trier), guided tour of the Kaiserthermen baths (Trier), Stella Noviomagi (Neumagen- Dhron); page 25: Ausonius long distance path near Dill, milestone near Nettersheim

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From Rome, the head of the world (caput mundi), each and every province between the atlantic and asia could be reached easily thanks

to the 300,000 kilometre long arterial system of well-built roads. They kept the organism of the empire alive, almost all military and civilian traffic

pulsed along them. But above all, they were also a symbol for Rome’s claim to power over the conquered territories, which were only regarded as

fully pacified when the engineers could set up their ingenious surveying instruments such as groma and chorobates. and the manner of their

construction, carving out metalled routes that paid no attention to the local topography but ran straight over rivers, valleys and mountains into

unexploited regions, didn’t fail to achieve their goal and command respect. If today we are impressed by the Romans’ ability to overcome natural

obstacles and open up huge territories, what must the effect on their contemporaries have been? Technical know-how was deliberately employed

internally in order to increase their sense of self-esteem, externally to pronounce Rome’s might. With the roads Roman culture came to the most

distant provinces. as conveyer belts for ideological and material goods, the roads themselves also exerted their own attraction. Near to them

settlements, sanctuaries and cemeteries were established; milestones which marked distances, resting places and staging posts for changing horses

FBelginum Archaeological Park

Remerschen funerary monument

Roman road near Dalheim

Wareswald excavation project

Schwarzenacker Roman Museum

Igel column

P a g e 27

on pages 34-59 sites that are related to transport infrastructure are marked with this pictogram

made journeys easier. even if in our latitudes the roads have been built over and there is little to remind us of the original routes – in some places

such as Blankenheim in the northern eifel the original paved surface can be seen, as well as the elaborate substructure -, it is the structures built near

the roads that bear witness to their attraction. For example, a temple to Mercury in Tawern (partly reconstructed) close to the old main road from

Trier to the Mediterranean. Or the Igel column, a funerary monument that is now a UNeSCO World Heritage Site and which was built by wealthy

cloth merchants along the main road leading out of Trier to the west. Whether as a settlement and staging post, or else as a last resting place, the old

vicus at Belginum at the crossroads of two major routes through the Hunsrück is one of the best documented sites. Here an archaeological park has

been built especially to display the objects that were placed in the graves in the cemetery that the native Celtic inhabitants had already frequented

and which remained in use for many centuries. “Belginum” is also mentioned on the “Tabula Peutingeriana”, a road map dating to the 4th century

aD which records almost the entire network of roads in the empire. according to the map, maybe not all but no less than twelve roads lead like the

rays of the sun to Rome.

Thomas Klein

Römerkanal trail, Nettersheim

Grütenhäuschen, Igel

Vicus Ricciacus, Dalheim

Tawern templeMilites near Belginum

Trier Roman bridge

➔ m A r k i n g

➔ f A C t s distance: 116 km

➔ R e c o m m e n d e d s t a g e s1. Nettersheim – Kall-dottel (15 km), Start: Naturzentrum Eifel Nettersheim (near railway station), Finish: Kall-dottel church / Public transport: Railway station in Kall-Scheven2. Kall-dottel – Mechernich (16 km), Start: Kall-dottel church, Finish: Mechernich-Feyer Mühle / Public transport: Railway station in Mechernich centre3. Mechernich – Kreuzweingarten (13 km), Start: Mechernich-Feyer Mühle, Finish: Railway station Kreuzweingarten4. Kreuzweingarten – Rheinbach (16 km), Start: Railway station Kreuzweingarten, Finish: Railway station Rheinbach5. Rheinbach – Bornheim-Brenig (22 km), Start: Railway station Rheinbach, Finish: Brenig / Public transport: Suburban train stop Bornheim6. Bornheim-Brenig – Brühl (15 km), Start: Brenig / Public transport: Suburban train stop Bornheim, Finish: Brühl water tower / Public transport: Suburban train stop Brühl 7. Brühl – Köln-Sülz (19 km), Start: Brühl water tower, Finish: Sülzgürtel Straße in Köln-Sülz / Public transport: Suburban train stop in Luxemburger Straße

P a g e 28

Walking on thematic trails Cycling on Roman routes➔r ö m e r k A n A l t r A i l (Long-distance footpath)

The Roman metropolis Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Cologne) on the Rhine didn’t just consume huge quantities of water in order to supply it’s public baths. How the Romans managed to bring clear spring water over a distance of some 100 km, and even over a watershed, into the town can be seen along the Römerkanal trail from Nettersheim. The Roman water conduit is still remarkably well preserved and with its spring house, infiltration gallery, collection basin, aqueducts and workshop, as well as, of course, numerous glimpses of its interior, provides valuable insights into the technology involved.If you want to walk the entire length, then it is recommended that you do it in 7 stages. Inexperienced walkers are recommended to concentrate on the first three stages which offer particularly impressive features and beautiful countryside. All stages can also be done as individual day trips. A package deal with luggage transfer from Nettersheim to Rheinbach can be booked with Nordeifel Tourismus GmbH. www.roemerkanl-wanderweg.de

P a g e 29

Walking on thematic trails Cycling on Roman routes

Time and space to take things at your own pace: much more relaxing than hurrying from attraction to attraction. How about a pleasurable ramble

along one of the many thematic trails that the Strassen der Römer has to offer? The ancient cultural landscape offers not just a variety of routes

through unspoilt countryside with splendid views, but also a great deal of history. Innumerable generations have left their mark here. Most recently

it was hard-working fans of history who have put all their efforts into caring for the remains of the past, constructed thematic trails, erected

information boards and benches at pretty resting places – to the benefit of their guests and in order to preserve the historical heritage. It’s often the

everyday history that can be traced here, often in gentle tones that only those who take their time can register. and then beside the route there are

many splendid attractions, impressive reconstructions and excavated sites waiting to be discovered.

A u s o n i u s t r A i l (Long-distance footpath)

Those who want to follow the poetAusonius on his journey from the Rhineto the Mosel take the Ausonius road. Some 120 km long, it crosses the picturesque Hunsrück from Bingen to Trier. Through varied countryside it travels through woods and across meadows with fine views over the gentle hills of the highlands, through pretty towns and villages with their rich heritage of half-timbered houses, and, of course, past Roman sites. Of particular note is the archaeological park at Belginum, which was built atan old staging post on the Roman roadand displays numerous interesting finds.It is recommended that the tour is done in at least 6 stages. The first two can – thanks to public transport – be done as separate day trips. Hunsrück-Touristik GmbH offers an all-inclusive walking trip package that can be modified according to individual wishes.

➔ m A r k i n g

➔ f A C t s 119 or 126 km (variant via Neumagen-drohn)

➔ r e C o m m e n d e d s t A g e s1. From Bingen to Rheinböllen (c. 22 km), Start: Burg Klopp in Bingen, Finish: Rheinböllen; also suitable as a separate day trip2. From Rheinböllen to Kirchberg (c. 25 km ), Start: Rheinböllen market place, Finish: Kirchberg old town centre; also suitable as a separate day trip 3. From Kirchberg to Morbach-Gonzerath (c. 28 km), Start: Kirchberg market place, Finish: Morbach-Gonzerath4. From Morbach-Gonzerath to Gräfendhron (c. 13 km), Start: B 269 Morbach-Gonzerath, Finish: Gräfendhron5. From Gräfendhron to Fell (c. 20 km), Start: Gräfendhron stone bridge, Finish: Fell town centre6. From Fell to Trier (c. 14 km), Start: Fell town centre, Finish: Trier, Porta Nigra

Au

P a g e 30

➔ d i s t A n C ec. 20 km., 5 – 6 hours

➔ C h A r A C t e rMainly comfortable paths through vineyards, but the walk down to the slate caves and the Weislei involves an Alpine climbs that require sureness of foot and fitness.

➔ s t A r t i n g p o i n tIn Trittenheim, Neumagen-dhron and Piesport by the bridges over the Mosel

➔ d i s t A n C e18 km., c. 5 – 6 hours

➔ s t A r t i n g p o i n tSchwarze Katz fountain / Town Hall (Rathaus), Balduinstrasse 44 in Zell (Mosel)

➔ d i s t A n C e6 km., c. 3 hours

➔ C h A r A C t e rEverywhere narrow tracks that require a head for heights and sureness of foot

➔ s t A r t i n g p o i n t sEller (railway station) and Bremm

r ö m e r s t e i g f r o m t r i t t e n h e i m t o m i n h e i m

Menhirs, slate caves, rocky outcrops, Roman wine-making … The Römersteig (Roman climb) between Trittenheim and Minheim offers a colourful mix of nature and the ancient world.

s t r A s s e d e r r ö m e r , Z e l l ( m o s e l )

Zell is famous for the vineyards on the slopes of the Zeller Schwarze Katz. However, the town on the Mosel also offers a number of Roman attractions that have been incorporated into the new thematic path “Strasse der Römer”. The route passes not only the ash cist on the bank of the Mosel, but also the remains of a hilltop temple with a fine view of the Mosel and the mysterious Alteburg, a late Roman fortification in the Altlayer Bach valley.

C A l m o n t w A l k A n d C l i m b b e t w e e n b r e m m A n d e d i g e r - e l l e r

A secured trail provides an adventurous climb through Europe’s steepest vine- yards. As a reward for the effort, at the weekend a glass of Calmont Riesling awaits at the dizzy heights by the cross on the summit. In addition there is a path along the ridge to the impressive remains of a Roman hilltop temple. The track returns to the Mosel through the Ellerbach valley.

➔No less diverse than the choice of sites to visit is the range of thematic trails of differing distances and difficulty – ranging from a pleasant stroll

to a diversified walk taking several days, from premium footpaths mostly on nearly natural paths to cultural trails on metalled surfaces offering

more sure footing. and those for whom walking is too slow, but still want sporting activity, can exchange their walking boots for a bicycle. You

don’t necessarily have to bring your own bike with you, for you can rent one there, if you want even with an auxiliary electric motor.

P a g e 31

➔ d i s t A n C e12 km., walking time c. 4 hours

➔ t i pPublic transport to Nettersheim: take the train to Nettersheim station; visit the permanent archaeological exhibition at the Nature Centre in Nettersheim (5 minutes walk from the station); walk the “Archäologie entdecken” footpath (12 km.); refreshments at the bakery and café “die Ähre”, Bahnhofstrasse 29; return from Nettersheim station

➔ d i s t A n C eShort loop c. 8 km. long loop with cemeteries c. 13 km; walking time for short tour c. 3 hours, long tour c. 4 hours

➔ s t A r t i n g p o i n tAt the border post in Wasserbillig/ Wasserbilligerbruck

➔ d i s t A n C e12.6 km., walking time c. 3-4 hours

➔ s t A r t i n g p o i n tBliesen (cemetery)

➔ t i pGuided tours (no charge) of the excavations at Wareswald every first Sunday in the month at 11 a.m. from May to October.

C i r C u l A r p A t h “ d i s C o v e r A r C h A e o l o g y ”

The “Archäologie entdecken” tour takes you to the important Roman and Frankish sites: to the “Görresburg” temple of the Matronae; to the spring house that is the staring point of the water conduit which ran nearly 100 km. to Cologne (to the 2nd cent. Ad); a section of the Roman main road from Cologne to Trier; and the archaeological exhibition in the Eifel Nature Centre.

f r o m m i l e s t o n e t o m i l e s t o n e ( m o s e l i n l u x e m b o u r g )

At the border post in Wasserbillig, where the old Roman bridge over the Sauer stood until the early 20th century, you will find the first of three reconstruc-tions of Roman mile or league-stones (1 Gallic league = 2.220 m.) that serve as a reminder of the route of the Roman road from Cologne to Trier and Metz. From here you can walk along the bank of the Mosel to the chapel in Mertert where the second milestone is. The official Mosel footpath “hanner Stell” then runs along the Stellbösch to a third milestone, before returning past the Felsmühle and the nature protection area Manternacher Fels, through the vineyards to Wasserbillig. The detour to the “Weiler” woods to visit the cemetery is well worthwhile.

t h e 5 l A k e t o u r – A r o u n d t h e r o m A n v i C u s w A r e s w A l d ( p r e m i u m f o o t p A t h )

The tour gets its name from the idyllic lakes that the route passes. From along the old Roman road there are repeatedviews of the Schaumberg. Near Tholeythere is the possibility of making a detourfrom the footpath to the excavations atthe Roman site of “Wareswald” which areonly 800 metres from the path. during the 1st century Ad a settlement wasestablished here at the crossroads oftwo Roman main routes. Much of it has been excavated in recent years.

➔

P a g e 32

straße(n) der römer

It’s all about the Romans! But how to get there? The question is answered by the guidebook “Straße(n) der Römer”. On 43 routes for 18 walks, 16 cycle tours and 9 excursions in the car, the author Heinz-Egon Rösch takes us to the Roman highlights on the Mo-sel and Rhine, in the Eifel, Hunsrück, Luxembourg and Saarland. His aim is to awake our interest in the relics of the Romans along their old roads, in their monuments, cult sites and settlements, and in visiting their reconstructions, at the same time learning much about the Romans and their culture. And all that in one of the most beautiful landscapes in Germany!

ISBN 978-3-937782-50-8, 136 pages, over 100 photos, Price: 6,45 €

➔ d i s t A n C eWincheringen loop: 19 km.Palzem loop: 21 km.Walking time c. 6-7 hours per loop

➔ C h A r A C t e rEverything the walker’s heart could wish for, mainly on forest and farm tracks

➔ s t A r t i n g p o i n t sWincheringen station / Palzem village centre. Public transport: both starting points are easily reached by train

➔ d i s t A n C e c. 10 km., c. 3-4 hours

➔ s t A r t i n g p o i n tButzweiler (car park at the fountain in “Klaus-Pauli-Platz”) and Kordel (car park for walkers beneath Ramstein castle) The route is particularly suitable for children of 6 years and older.

v i A C A l i g A ( o b e r m o s e l )

The Romans road to Trier ran between Palzem and Wincheringen. The thematic footpath Cia Caliga follows the old route across the heights of the Saargau. “Caliga”were the strapped leather sandals ofthe Roman legionaries. At fi rst sight theshoes don’t seem very sturdy, but theywere in fact extremely robust and idealfor long marches. But it’s another matter altogether how far modern walkers would manage in the hobnailed soles.

r o m A n t r A i l b e t w e e n b u t Z w e i l e r A n d k o r d e l ( p r e m i u m f o o t p A t h )

It combines the Putzlöcher Roman copper mines and the Roman Langmauer near Butzweiler with other attractions, for example the imposing Genoveva caves, the Klausner cave and Ramstein castle. There are a number of suspended bridges over the Butzerbach which are a particular attraction – not only – for children.

➔ b o o k t i p

➔

straße(n) der römer

P a g e 33

➔ d i s t A n C e35 km

➔ C h A r A C t e rTwo thirds of the route are flat, one third hilly with a climb out of the Mosel valley (200 metres altitude difference)

➔ d i s t A n C eA total of 356 km

➔ C h A r A C t e rMedium to active

➔ t i pJust get on and set off. Even difficult stretches aren’t a problem any more: the silent eVelo Saarland adds 150% to your muscle power! In Saarland there is an extensive regional network of rental stations. Information at www.tourismus-saarland.de

➔ d i s t A n C eA total of 429 km

➔ C h A r A C t e rSuitable for families, with completely flat routes that generally run close to the rivers as they meander through a variety of landscapes. Longer tours can be easily combined with a boat trip, or else shortened by using the train or the cycle bus (Radelbus).

➔ t i pThe Ruwer Valley cycle path runs from Ruwer to the Roman aqueduct in Waldraach, and on to Hermeskeil and the Hochwaldmuseum.

v e l o r o m A n u m : o n y o u r b i k e t h r o u g h t h e A n C i e n t w o r l d ( l u x e m b o u r g m o s e l )

The tour begins at the stone from the Roman winepress next to the village hall (Gemeindehaus) in Bech-Kleinmacher. From there the route takes you along the Mosel cycle track to Schwebsingen and the ancient sarcophagus, before continuing to the wine merchant’s funerary monument in “Haff Remich” near Remerchen. It then runs on up the Kräizbierg to Elvange and Ellange, and down to the French border, where there was once a Roman fort. The “Kiem”, the historical route of the Roman road from Metz to Trier, leads to “Vicus Ricciacus” and the Roman theatre in dalheim. Finally a pretty cycle path runs along the track of the old “Jangelis Bunn”, one of the main railway lines in Luxembourg in the early 20th century, over the “Scheierbierg” to the end of the route, the Roman burial chamber in Bech-Kleinmacher.

s A A r l A n d C y C l e p A t h

The Saarland cycle path passes through the glorious countryside along the borders of Saarland. Explore towns like Saarbrücken and St. Wendel, as well as imposing landscapes, on a historical tour. Numerous attractions on the way invite you to dally, discover and enjoy. Celtic and Roman attractions along the way: Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte (Pre- and Protohistory), Schwarzenacker Roman museum, Gollenstein menhir, European Culture Park Bliesbruck-Reinheim, Otzenhausen Celtic hillfort, Nennig Roman villa; also: Saarbrücken town centre, Bostalsee lake, meander of the river Saar and Cloef, UNESCO World Heritage Site Völklinger Hütte, and much more.

C y C l e A l o n g r o m A n s h i p p i n g r o u t e s

The rivers Saar and Mosel were important shipping routes for the Romans, and their valleys were densely settled. Even then vines grew on the slopes. So you can reach numerous Roman attractions along the Saar and Mosel Cycle Path, while at the same time enjoying an important part of our Roman heritage: wine.

➔an extremely well-developed and well-connected network of cycle paths offers everyone’s leg muscles just the right tour. apart from them,

cycle discovery days invite you to entertaining excursions on roads that are closed to traffic for the occasion, with innumerable opportunities

to stop off and enjoy yourself. It is not just a paradise for fans of the Romans. On the following pages we have put together a selection of

tours and tips. You can find more at www.strassen-der-roemer.eu.

P a g e 34

020★

021★

022★

010★ ★ ★

007★

011★ ★ ★

012★ ★

006★ ★ ★

008★

005★ ★ ★

013★

014★

016★

015★

019★

004★ ★

009★ ★ ★

P a g e 35

018★ ★

017★ ★

003★

001★ ★ ★

002★

Römerkanal-footpath

Mosel Cycle Path

★★★ Well worth visiting

★★ Worth visiting

★ Interesting attraction near the route

(★) Investment

Sanctuary, temple

Museum, art

Villa, farmstead

Technical attraction

Road, fortifi ed settlement

067★ ★

048★ ★ ★

049★ ★ ★

050★ ★ ★

047★ ★ ★

051★ ★ ★

052★ ★ ★

098★

058★ ★

053★ ★ ★

054★ ★ ★

055★ ★ ★

056★ ★ ★

070★ (★)

060★ ★

029★

030★

028(★ ★)

046★ ★ ★

072★

074★ ★

073★

024★ ★

025★ ★

023★ ★ ★

032★

026★ (★)

031★

027★ (★)

063★ ★

066★ ★

096★

079★

080★ ★ ★

068★ ★

069★ ★

095★ ★ ★

062★ ★

065★ ★

097★ ★ ★

058★ ★

057★

059★

061★ ★

075★ ★

076★

077★

078★ ★ ★

071★ ★

P a g e 37

Mosel Cycle Path

Via Ausonia

Saar Cycle Path

★★★ Well worth visiting

★★ Worth visiting

★ Interesting attraction near the route

(★) Investment

Sanctuary, temple

Museum, art

Villa, farmstead

Technical attraction Road, fortifi ed

settlement Restaurant with

066★ ★

064★ ★ ★

035★ ★ ★

033★

034★ ★

088★ ★ ★

087★ ★ ★

085★

084★ ★

086★ ★

082★ ★ ★

083★

044★

040★(★)

041★

093★ ★

091★ ★

094★

039★ ★ ★

036★

037★ ★

038★

045★ ★ ★

043★ ★

042★ ★ ★

046★ ★ ★

P a g e 38

092★

090★

089★ ★

081★ ★ ★

P a g e 39

Mosel Cycle Path

Via Ausonia

Saar Cycle Path

Saarland Cycle Path

★★★ Well worth visiting

★★ Worth visiting

★ Interesting attraction near the route

(★) Investment

Sanctuary, temple

Museum, art

Villa, farmstead

Technical attraction

Road, fortifi ed settlement

Restaurant with Roman dishes

P a g e 40

m o n u m e n t s i n t h e e i f e l➔

001 ★★★

meurin roman mine, kretz

The Roman mine is the largest underground Roman tuff quarry north of the Alps. The layers of tuff here, which are several metres thick and have been quarried for more than 2,000 years, are the result of the violent eruption of the Laacher See volcano. An imposing symbiosis of modern architecture and the 2,000 year old mine will enthral the visitor and take him back to the harsh world of Roman stone quarrying. In 2004 the Meurin Roman mine was presented with one of the most important European cultural prizes by Europa Nostra for its unique concept and presentation.

A station in the Vulkanpark. On the B256, d-56630 Kretz, tel. +49 (0)2632-98750 geo-coordinates: 50.39669° N/7.35683° E

002 ★

burial mound, ochtendung

When it came to burying their dead, the Romans could be quite creative: funerary monuments, funerary temples, ash cists, stone sarcophaguses, etc. In Ochtendung you can see an impressively huge (reconstructed) burial mound that was the last resting place of several people, including a woman and two small children. They will have lived in a nearby villa. The fertile and idyllic Maifeld plateau, just outside the gates of Koblenz, was a popular place to live even 2,000 years ago. There is a further burial mound just a few kilometres away in Nickenich. Perhaps also farmers? After all, the troops on the Limes had to be supplied. An excursion to nearby Burg Eltz can be recommended. It is not Roman, but famous as a rare example of a castle that was not destroyed. A Roman hilltop refuge has been identified near the ruins of the castle at Wernerseck, between Ochtendung and Plaidt.

Burial mound: Am Römerhügel, d-56299 Ochtendung (GPS: 50.34671° N/7.39711° O) Burg Eltz: Wierschem (K 38)

003 ★

roman burial mound & funerary monument, nickenich

The little cemetery, consisting of a burial mound and a funerary monument, is a good example of how, long after the conquest of the Rhine zone by the Romans, the partly

Celtic population for a long time still stuck to their native customs and ethnic peculiarities. A limestone inscription from the tumulus reads: “For Contuinda, the daughter of Esucco, and for Silvanus Ategnisa her son, their heirs erected this tomb in accordance with their testament.” In Pellenz Archaeological Museum finds from burials and settlements are on display, including a Roman cult loaf and the remains of Roman fruit tarts that were found in a grave of the 2nd century Ad near Saffig.

Laacherstraße (sports ground), 56645 Nickenich; Pellenz-Museum: Zehntstraße 7, d-56645 Nickenich, tel. +49 (0)2632-958952 geo-coordinates: 50.41370° N/7.31456° O

004 ★★

katzensteine, mechernich-katzvey

The Roman quarry got its name from the nearby village Katzvey. Traces of ancient quarrying are still visible on the 15 m high rock formation, for example traces of spalling, holes for wedges and scoring. The finds from the excavations conducted here are also interesting, for example a coloured glass bowl, which was probably made in Italy. Animal bones, cherry stones and hazelnuts provide important information on the diet of the Roman quarry workers: apart from dear and wild cattle, domesticated pigs were eaten, and mussels collected in the Veybach which flows past.

Site: An the L 61 from Satzvey to Mechernich on the left hand side (car park) geo-coordinates: 50.60356° N / 6.69001° E

005 ★★★

lime kilns, bad münstereifel-iversheim

Six massive kilns from the large Roman lime works have been excavated, roofed over and documented in detail. The raw material came from the nearby quarries, and the lime produced here was shipped to the Lower Rhine, where it was an im-portant building material. The complex is probably the best researched lime works in Europe and is one of the most important archaeological sites for our understanding of the economic history of the Roman Empire north of the Alps.

Site: on the B 51 at the northern entranceto Iversheim, tel. +49 (0)2253-8027 geo-coordinates: 50.58815° N / 6.77391° E

006 ★★★

Aqueduct on the römerkanal, mechernich-vussem

When they built the gigantic water supply from Nettersheim to Cologne, the engineers didn’t always find the terrain particularly suitable. In order to achieve a steady incline they had to take the water across an enormous bridge, 80 metres long, on what is known as an aqueduct. Part of the structure has been informa-tively reconstructed and today is one of the highlights of the 110 kilometres of the Römerkanal footpath. Those travelling by car can visit a collecting basin in the neigh-bouring village of Eiserfey, and a spring basin between Eiserfey and Kallmuth. Site: south of Mechernich, signposted in Vussem.

geo-coordinates: 50.56472° N/6.66843° O

007 ★

roman Quarry, kall

Traces of Roman quarrying and stone- working methods can be discovered in a stepped rock wall in the woods. A private entrepreneur, perhaps a villa owner from the neighbourhood, may have extracted building material here for occasional private use or as a small business. At least that is assumed to have been the case for the “Katzensteine” near Katzvey. What can be seen of it today? For example so-called “Schrotgräben”, vertical channels that served to split off blocks of stone, smoothed faces and comb-like mallet traces arranged in arcs.

Site: 1 km northwest of Kall on the L 204 to Gemünd, car park; geo-coordinates: 50.55042° N / 6.54846° E

008 ★

temple complex, bad münstereifel-nöthen

Situated prettily in the woods, the group of temples near Bad Münstereifel-Nöthen invite you to a contemplative stroll. As on the “Görresburg” near Nettersheim, among the various divinities worshipped here were three mother or fertility goddesses

P a g e 40

known as the Matronae. The complex originally consisted of temples, secular buildings and a basilica, of which only the foundations are visible today, but which have been partially reconstructed. Copies of votive stones have been set up, and today people still bring offerings to the Matronae portrayed on them.

Site: 6 km southwest of Bad Münstereifel; in Pesch turn off the L 206 southeast to “Zum Heidentempel” and follow signs for car park, from there 10 mins on foot; geo-coordinates: 50.53362° N / 6.70314° E

009 ★★★

spring basin “grüner putz” with infiltration gallery and water conduit, nettersheim

This is where the Roman water pipeline starts. The long infiltration gallery, which collects the water from the slope and channels it into a spring basin that is now open, is particularly impressive. From there the water flows into one of the first sections of the Roman aqueduct. According to Roman beliefs the two heads of Medusa depicted on the spring basin were intended to divert evil from the spring. The Römerkanal footpath is signposted from Nettersheim railway station and the Naturzentrum Eifel (Urftstr. 2-4, d-53947 Nettersheim).

Site: in the Urft valley 2.5 km northwest of Nettersheim, follow the signs from the junction of Rosenthalstraße and Kloster- straße; car park near the „Grünen Pütz“ is accessible; geo-coordinates: 50.51235° N / 6.60885° E

010 ★★★

“görresburg” temple of the matronae, nettersheim

Situated on a hilly promontory with a pretty view, the temple complex for the Matronae Aufaniae is a station on the circular trail “Archäologie entdecken” (discover archaeology), which starts in the Naturzentrum Eifel (12 km). In a spiritual throwback the three mother goddesses are still revered by women today, as the frequent offerings of fresh flowers demons-trate. In Christian times the Matronae were reinterpreted as three holy virgins, and so still have a place in popular belief. Sometimes you can experience archaeolo-gy “live” in the area between the temple and “Steinrütsch” in the Urft valley,

001 Roman mine Meurin

004 Katzensteine Mechernich

005 Lime kilns Iversheim

006 Aqueduct Mechernich-Vussem

009 Spring basin Nettersheim

where a Roman settlement, a late Roman fortification, and sections of the Roman road from Cologne to Trier have been excavated and can be visited.

Site: c. 1.5 km on foot from the Naturzen- trum Eifel (Urftstr. 2-4, d-53947 Netters-heim, Parkplatz), from there signposted; geo-coordinates: 50.48233 N / 6.61827 E

011 ★★★

römerkanal footpath, nettersheim-Cologne

The Roman aqueduct from Nettersheim to Cologne was a remarkable piece of Roman engineering that had to cross the heights of the Eifel and even a watershed. Worth seeing: varied insights into the interior of the conduit, an impressive bridge for the aqueduct, and a smaller bridge, spring basins, collecting and stilling basins to slow down the water when it was collected, workshop for the pipeline and inspection shafts. The best way to explore this masterpiece is on foot or else on mountain bike along the 110 km of the Römerkanal footpath, which takes in all the important sites and gives an excellent impression of how the conduit crossed the terrain. Particularly worth-while: the first section from Nettersheim to Mechernich, both of which can be reached by train (c. 30 km).

Nordeifel Tourismus GmbH, Bahnhofstr. 13, 53925 Kall, tel. +49 (0)2441-99457-0

012 ★★

Archaeological circular trail, nettersheimThe “Archäologie entdecken” footpath (length 12 km) leads to the most important Roman and Frankish attractions around Nettersheim: the “Görresburg” temple of the Matronae; the spring basin at “Grüner Pütz” which marks the start of the nearly 100 km long aqueduct to Cologne; the archaeological exhibition in the Naturzent-rum Eifel; the Roman site at “Steinrütsch” with its milestone; and the Roman road from Cologne to Trier, which is visible in places as a sunken road and elsewhere as a section of the carriageway with wheel ruts cut deep into the rocky ground. Start and finish are at the Naturzentrum Eifel, not far by foot from the railway station.

Urftstr. 2-4, d-53947 Nettersheim, tel. +49 (0)2486-1246 geo-coordinates: 50.49019° N / 6.62788° E

m o n u m e n t s i n t h e e i f e l➔

015 ★

icorigium fort, Jünkerath

A flourishing roadside settlement was established early at the site where the main road from Trier to Cologne crossed the Kyll. It included shops, taverns and inns. The buildings were arranged with their narrow sides to the street, and there were probably colonnades over the sidewalks. Icorigium was destroyed by the Germans, but secured by the Emperor Constantine with an impressive fortifica-tion, comparable with those at Bitburg and Nuemagen. The modern street “Am Römerwall” follows the line of the old Roman fort walls, but otherwise only a few remains of the wall are to be seen near the Eisenmuseum (Iron Museum), itself well worth a visit, and only c. 300 m by foot from the railway station.

d-54589 Jünkerath, Eisenmuseum geo-coordinates: 50.33943° N / 6.58813° E

016 ★

roman bust, stadtkyll/niederkyll

In the village of Niederkyll near Stadtkyll there is a pretty, late gothic chapel that was built about Ad 1600, in other words is clearly post-Roman. The old wall paintings and figures are well worth seeing, as is the cast iron Nothelferkreuz (cross of the helper in times of trouble) in the interior of the chapel. But why is it a station on the Straßen der Römer? Because of the cheeky Roman head on the outside gable. It is evi-dence of Roman settlement in the area and was perhaps once part of a Roman funera-ry monument, but there is no way of kno-wing today. On the other hand there are all the more legends: the church is supposed to have been built on Roman walls, and it is claimed that soldiers sacrificed here to Mars, the god of war.

d-54589 Stadtkyll-Niederkyll, Kirche geo-coordinates: 50.35370° N / 6.54547° E

017 ★★

katzenberg roman lookout, near mayen

The Katzenberg was crowned by the largest late Roman hilltop fortification in the Eifel and Hunsrück. It was constructed in inse-cure times about Ad 300, when the Roman Limes had already been abandoned. In order to give a realistic impression of what it was like, some 70 m of the fortification, with battlements you can walk along, have

013 ★

roman road olbrück / blankenheimerdorf

The Roman Road from Cologne to Trier runs through the „Olbrückwald“ woods near Blankenheim. Here a section of the road has been uncovered and protected by a roof. Next to it, in the woods, is a resting place for hikers on the 19.5 kilometres of the Tiergarten- Tunnel footpath. This begins at Blankenheim Wald railway station and runs through the Olbrückwald woods along the route of the old Roman road. It takes you to the medieval water supply of the Counts of Blankenheim, and, among other sights, leads through the Haubachtal nature conservation area, past burial mounds, fortifications and Roman roads. Work is proceeding at full pace on the Roman road from Cologne to Trier, which is to be opened up as far as Jünkerath as the “Agrippa-Strasse” for walkers and cyclists to experience. As part of the project, the Roman villa at Blankenheim, one of the largest axial villas in the Rhineland, will be accessible to tourists. The colonnade, which is nearly 60 m long, is being reconstructed using modern materials, while abstract indications reveal the extent of the adjoining buildings and markings and information boards bring them to life. Remains of the original walls can also be seen near the colonnade. The completion date for the reconstruction is the middle of 2013.

Site: 2 km southwest of Blankenheim: from the B 51 turn off onto the K 70 towards Blankenheim, on the left after 400 m; geo-coordinates: 50.43116° N / 6.60982° E

014 ★

roman road near esch / dahlem /schmidtheim

The Roman road from Trier to Cologne crosses the border between the Federal States of Rheinland-Pfalz and Nordrhein-Westfalen near Esch, dahlem and Schmidt- heim. Its perfectly straight course is still clearly visible here in the woods as a 1 metre high embankment. The local councils will be opening up the Roman road as a cycle and footpath. This will make it part of the ambitious and extensive project “discovery Zone Roman Road – Agrippa-Strasse”, which aims to make the Roman road from Trier to Cologne visible once more and accessible to tourists.

Site: 2 km east of dahlem; from the B51 turn south at the L 204 and follow the signs geo-coordinates: 50.37912° N/6.58263° E

010 Temple of the Matronae Görresburg

011 Römerkanal footpath

012 Circular footpath Nettersheim

017 Roman lookout Katzenberg

018 Grubenfeld Mayen

been reconstructed. At the summit of the hill a walk-in protective structure covers the site of the excavation of the origi-nal Roman lookout. Once a year the site comes back to life when a Roman cohort pitches camp here and conducts military exercises.

d-56727 Mayen, Katzenberg geo-coordinates: 50.32045° N / 7.24939° E

018 ★★

grubenfeld, near mayen

The Mayener Grubenfeld is one of the old-est and most important exploited sources of basalt lava. The porous stone is ideally suited for cereal grinders and millstones. A circular path takes you through the land-scape of mines, down into the solidified lava stream of the Belleberg volcano with its bizarre column-like formations. Signs of Roman quarrying activity can be seen right next to the 20th century electric crane. The volcano experience centre “Terra Vulca-niae” is new, and here visitors can work the stone themselves and so experience the feeling of how the volcanic materi-al has been extracted over the last 7,000 years. The highlight is the “big cinema”, a mixture of realistic shots and computer animation. The visit to Terra Vulcaniae and the Grubenfeld takes about 2 hours.

d-56727 Mayen, An den Mühlsteinen geo-coordinates: 50.33278° N /7.23768° E

019 ★

roman temple “Juddekirchhof”, pelm

The “Juddekirchhof”, on the Hustley, a hill near Pelm, was probably a Roman pilgrim centre. According to a votive plaque the goddess Caiva was worshipped here. She was a patron deity of the Celtic farming communities who live in the Gerolstein and Pelm region, and perhaps even further afield. One benefactor paid the proud sum of 100,000 sestertii for the construc-tion of a temple here. There was a temple, perhaps a priest’s house, and certainly a semi-circular cult theatre. One curiosity is the fact that the lime mortar in the walls is harder than many of the stones used. The lime was not slaked with water, but with milk, and as a result not calcium carbonate but lactate of lime was produced, which is virtually indestructible.

d-54570 Pelm, Kasselburg car park, from there follow the signs „Geo-Route“ (red-brown „G“ in a a circle on white background); distance c. 1.2 km; geo-coordinates: 50.23067° N/6.67452° O (Kasselburg car park)

020 ★

villa sarabodis, gerolstein

Near the Erlöserkirceh in Gerolstein (itself worth a visit), close to the railway line and within walking distance of the railway station, the remains of a Roman villa were found. Like so many others the villa was destroyed by Germans. The numerous finds from the site can be seen in the museum. Particularly unusual are the graves of Frankish warriors that were also found here: even by moderns standards they were tall, and all of their skulls were split and they had severe injuries. The impressive Erlöserkirche (Church of the Holy Saviour), the interior of which is remarkable for a decorative programme comprising some 24 million mosaic stones, is the work of the Berlin architect, Professor Schwechten, who also built the Kaiser-Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche in Berlin.

Important: both the villa and the Erlöserkirche can only be viewed as part of a guided tour! dates: April to October, Wednesday and Saturday 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Info: 06591-94991-0

Sarresdorfer Str. 15-17; d-54568 Gerolstein; geo-coordinates: 50.22356° N / 6.65520° E

021 ★

roman fortification, schutz

Protection (German: Schutz!) for Rom(e)? The old fortification on the Burberg near Schutz was probably used as a refuge by the population of the surrounding settle-ments in the late Roman period. Whether the nearby Eifel village of Rom was already settled then is not known. The mighty hill offered a good view of the surrounding plain, and an enemy could only attack from the north, where a double rampart protec-ted the approach. Chambers several sto-ries high cut into the volcanic rock and the circuit of the fortifications provided pro-tection for those seeking refuge, and the water required for survival could be drawn from cisterns. In this way they had a good chance of escaping their enemies.

d-54570 Schutz, Burberg geo-coordinates: 50.12982° N / 6.75878° E

022 ★

roman burial mound, strotzbüsch

If you ever wanted to see inside a burial mound, then near Strotzbüsch you finally get the chance. The tumulus was once up to six metres high, but most of it has been removed and today you can see into a bu-rial chamber made of sandstone blocks. It was entered for burial through a passa-geway that was filled up with earth, but could be cleared out when needed. It was narrow, and certainly not a pleasant way in, but that hadn’t stopped grave robbers from plundering it.

d-54552 Strotzbüsch, Hontheimer Straße geo-coordinates: 50.09470° N / 6.96586° E

023 ★★★

otrang roman villa, fließem

The fine remains of a large villa complex, which include ornate mosaic floors, were already excavated during the period of Prussian rule. Even the protective structu-res which were built over parts of the site are themselves listed buildings. Among the curiosities is a wooden Prussian fron-tier bar, which was reused in the roof of one of the structures. The picturesque view across the wide, hilly landscape is best en-joyed from the terrace of the small restau-rant. What will the view have been like for the wealthy owners of the villa?

Villa Otrang 1, d-54636 Fließem, tel. +49 (0)6569-807 geo-coordinates: 50.01382° N / 6.54622° E

024 ★★

bitburg roman fort

In the final phases of the Roman Empire important main roads had to be fortified, and so a fortification was constructed at the market town of Beda that is still visible in the fabric of the town today. A circular archaeological path visits all of the remains of the once mighty walls on the important route from Trier to Cologne; some of the sections still stand to a significant height. A model of the site can be seen in the foyer of the town hall (Stadthalle). If you wish you can book a guided tour with one of the soldiers of the Roman re-enactment group “Milites Bedenses”.

P a g e 43

m o n u m e n t s i n t h e e i f e l➔

Otherwise Bitburg is dominated by the world famous Bitburg brewery, which now offers visitors an entertaining “World of Experience”.

Rathaus, d-54634 Bitburg; geo-coordinates: 49.97467° N / 6.52437° E

025 ★★

kreismuseum, bitburg

What was life like then, 100, 200 or even 2,000 years ago? How did people live and work in the Eifel, and what was on their minds? In its 20 rooms the Kreismuseum tells the history of this landscape, reminds us of the people who once lived here, and exhibits treasures large and small from the past. Of course there are also exhibits about the Romans who lived and worked in the area surrounding the fortification at Beda.

d-54634 Bitburg, Trierer Str. 15 tel. +49 (0)6561-683888 geo-coordinates: 49.96962° N / 6.52333° E

026 ★(★)

pottery centre, speicher and

“Römische Meile” in the HeimatmuseumNot only today is Speicher a thriving pottery centre. It was already so in Roman times. The famous flamed wares from Speicher were widely exported, and the jugs decorated with human and animal heads were particularly popular. But simple everyday wares such as bowls and mortars, pots, jugs, amphorae and even tiles were produced here. The names of the potters were stamped into the products as a trademark.The Heimatmuseum in Speicher houses a rich collection of objects relating to the history of the region. A “Römische Meile” documents the 2,000 year-old roots of the regional pottery industry and shows, among other things, what ancient kilns looked like and how they functioned. Closed for renovation until the end of 2013.

d-54662 Speicher, Jakobsstraße 56 tel. +49(0)6562-6436 (Mr. Müller, VG Speicher)geo-coordinates: 49.9344° N / 6.6342° E

027 ★(★)

langmauer, herforst and Zemmer

The Roman potteries at Speicher extended as far as the village of Herforst. The entire production centre was inside the circuit of the so-called Langmauer, and thus must have once been located within an impe-rial estate. A section of the Langmauer has been reconstructed at the entrance to Herforst and provided with an informa-tion board. Another section can be seen at the edge of the neighbouring village of Zemmer, but in this case at its original site. The Heimatmuseum in Zemmer is also well worth a visit. Please enquire about visits (no charge).

Langmauer: d-54662 Herforst, geo-coordinates: 49.94665° N/6.69617° O d-54313 Zemmer: 49.89085° N/6.70137° O Heimatmuseum: d-54313 Zemmer, Schleidweiler Str. 20; +49 (0)6501-602666 (deutsch-Luxemb. Tourist-Information)

028 (★★)

holsthum roman villa

Originally the pretty village of Holsthum near Irrel was the site of a number of Ro-man villas. The remains of a structure on the hillside have now been excavated and can be visited. A circular path connects the villa with the plateau of Ferschweiler, which positively exudes history: besides the prehistoric Fraubillenkreuz men-hir, there are a Celtic refuge and ancient tombs, as well as a Christian pilgrim cen-tre, known as the Schankweiler Klause.

d-54668 Holsthum geo-coordinates: 49.88983° N / 6.42970° E

029 ★

bollendorf roman villa

It shaped a whole category of Roman farms: in a manner of speaking Bollendorf villa is the archetype of all smaller rural villas. Today it is protected by a modern structure that the students of Trier Uni-versity of Applied Science designed, and which is inspired by the Roman architec-ture. Bollendorf itself is a lively tourist cen-tre on the Sauer. The river forms the border with the neighbours on other side in Lux-embourg, with whom friendly relations are maintained. The much-frequented pilgrim route of St James passes close by the villa

on the way to Echternach, where another Roman villa can be found near the lake.

d-54669 Bollendorf, In der Kroppicht geo-coordinates: 49.85104° N/ 6.36837° E

030 ★

votive monument, ernzen

At Ernzen a pious and clearly rich patron by the name of Germanus dedicated an expensive and ornate votive monument to the god Intarabus. It consisted of an al-tar and a small temple. Unfortunately the life-sized statue of the deity that probably once stood in the temple has not survived, and only the votive inscription bears wit-ness to the native Romano-Celtic god. The votive monument is today in “Messeweg”.

d-54668 Ernzen, Messeweg geo-coordinates: 49.84426° N / 6.42251° E

031 ★

römerpfad path to the pützlöcher and the langmauer, butzweiler

The Römerpfad has been certified as a premium circular footpath to the Eifel-steig (“Top-Trail of Germany”), and leads you some 10 km to the “Pützlöchern”, a Roman copper mine and quarry, and to a section of the Langmauer near Butzweiler. The quarry probably provided stone for the Porta Nigra in Trier! Starting points for the circular path are the car park beneath the ruins of Ramstein castle near Kordel, or the Ramsteiner Weg car park near Butzwei-ler. The latter is closer to the Roman sites, which are the first two stations on the rou-te, which is signposted with a Roman coin. The path carries on to the Genoveva and Klausen caves. Not only children have fun walking through the adventurous Butzer-bach valley with its hanging bridges. The copper mines can be visited by prior ap-pointment with the Heimatverein Butzwei-ler e.V.: tel. +49(0)6505-8755.

d-54309 Butzweiler, Parkplatz Ramsteiner-weg geo-coordinates: 49.81696° N/6.62117° E

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032 ★

hermenweiher, welschbillig

Very little has survived of what was once a splendid Roman villa. The only indica-tion of just how rich the owners of the villa were is the Hermenweiher, a pool surroun-ded by an ornately decorated balustrade. The balustrade was decorated with herms, that is busts set onto pillars that had their origins in the cult of Hermes. Hence the name. Here the impressive decoration por-trays gods, generals and members of the peoples united under the Roman Empire. Was this perhaps the splendid palace of the administrator of an imperial estate? That, at least, is how archaeologists inter-pret the lands that were once surrounded by what is known as the Langmauer. Today only a few casts of the herms can be seen opposite the castle in Welschbillig.

d-54298 Welschbillig geo-coordinates: 49.85285° N / 6.56901° E

023 Otrang Roman villa Fließem

025 Kreismuseum Bitburg

024 Bitburg Roman fort

i m p r e s s u mPublisher and concept: Mosellandtouristik GmbH in association with Eifel Tourismus GmbH, Hunsrück- Touristik GmbH, Tourismus Zentrale Saarland GmbH with Projektkreis “Kelten und Römer” and Office Régional du Tourisme Région Moselle Luxembourgeoise

Geobasis information (ÜK250) © Landesamt für Vermessung und Geo-basisinformation Rheinland-Pfalz from Ausgabe 2010, Az.: 26 722-1.401

Graphic design: lutzgestaltet, Mülheim

Photos from the archives of the project partners, the stations of the Straßen der Römer, towns and tourist information offices, as well as the Roman re-enactment group Milites Bedenses; Photographs by Yaph/TI Trier, A. Kohlhaas, A. Brachat (GdKE/Burgen, Schlösser, Altertümer), G. dixius, S. Wahlen, G. Hoffmann, Th. Zühmer (GdKE/Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier), M. Heinrich, U. Pfeuffer (GdKE/Landesmuseum Koblenz), N. Glatter, intention Werbeagentur, d. Ketz, E. Bock, Panther- media, C. Schick, A. Weinand, K.-P. Kappest, K. Thewalt, B. Blees, C. Cordie, I. Ristow, InMotion, Ph. Bohn, Thuns, Ph. Eschenauer, A. Wisniewski, W.Götzinger, Ch. Krawczyk, H. J. Sittig, K. Maas, bh-medien.de, W. Hoor, M. Reschke, Ch. Arnoldi, M. Rodziewicz (GdKE/Landesmuseum Koblenz), Archäologische denkmalpflege Koblenz, M. Fries, H. Götzinger, G. Vella, C. Löw, R. Schmitz, F. Schaal, Stiftung Saarländischer Kulturbesitz, B. Kaufmann, d. Pfeiffer, K. Krell, F.-J. Schumacher

Mosella: Copyright A. Kordel, Literatur: Ausonius, decimus Magnus: Mosella. Hrsg. Und in metrischer Übersetzung vorgelegt von Bertold K. Weis. 3. Unverand. Auflage, Stuttgart: Theiss, 1997; Ausonius, decimus Magnus: Mosella; lateinisch/deutsch. Hrsg., in Blankverse übers., erl. und mit einer Einleitung versehen von Paul dräger, Trier: Paulinus 2001; d. Magnus Ausonius: Mosella mit Texten von Symma-chus und Venantius Fortunatus. Hrsg. übers. und kommentiert von Otto Schönberger, Stuttgart: Philipp Reclam jun., 2000; Joachim Gruber: Ausonius 2. Teil - 16 Jahre Ausonius- Forschung 1989-2004, im Internet veröffentlicht unter www.plekos.uni-muenchen.de/2005/fausonius2.html Mosella translation: H.G.E. White, Loeb Classical Library: Ausonius (London/Cambridge, 1961) with emendations by david Wigg-Wolf.

Translation: dr. david Wigg-Wolf

Production: Möller druck, Ahrensfelde

All rights reserved © Mosellandtouristik GmbHPrinted in Germany

All information is based on thorough research. However no responsibility is accepted or guarantee given for details being up-to-date, correct or complete.

In cooperation with the LEAdERGruppen LAG Mosel, LAG Moselfranken, LAG Hunsrück, LAG Bitburg-Prüm, LAG Vulkaneifel, LAG Eifel, LAG Miselerland (Lux.), LAG Biosphäre Bliesgau, LAG St. Wendeler Land and the ILE-Regions Saar- Obermosel, Saargau, Hochwald and SaarPrimsbogen, as well as all the stations of the Straßen der Römer, the towns involved in the project, and tourist information offices. We would like to thank all who helped in the realisation of this brochure.

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033 ★

funerary monument, remerschen

This is the site of the grave of a Roman winemaker. On his tombstone he had himself portrayed harvesting the grapes. The monument used to be at least six metres high and was decorated with further scenes from the everyday life of the landowner and winemaker. Unfortunately the villa can no longer be seen, most of it having fallen victim to a gravel pit. The funerary monument at Remerschen is connected to the “Velo Romanum” cycle path, a circular tour of various sites with wonderful views running through Schweb- singen, Remerschen and Bad Mongdorf; total distance 35 km, start at the weight from the Roman wine press in Bech-Kleinmacher.

In „Haff Remich“ near L-5506 Remerschen; geo-coordinates: 49.49320° N / 6.36569° E

034 ★★

funerary monument and stone weight from a wine press, bech-kleinmacher

Who would not like to be buried here? Surrounded by vines with a lovely view of the Mosel valley and the site of the extensive villa in Nennig, the owners of the villa at Bech-Kleinmacher could hardly have chosen a finer place for their cemetery. What will their house have looked like when they were alive? Certainly wine was produced here, for in the centre of the village near the church and next to the cemetery the stone weight from a Roman wine press can be seen beneath a modern protective roof. For cyclists the area can be explored on the “Velo Romanum”, which begins at the wine press weight. Total length 35 km; two thirds of the route are flat, one third hilly with a 500 m climb out of the Mosel valley (200 m difference in altitude).

Via a closed road (without signpost) up the hill at the crossroads Route du Vin/ Rue des Caves, L-5404 Bech-Kleinmacher geo-coordinates: 49.53070° N / 6.35242° E

035 ★★★

ricciacus vicus and theatre, dalheim

The impressive Roman theatre at dalheim, built into a slope on the edge of the village, is remarkable for its excellent state of preservation. However, the Roman

venue for events at the vicus of Ricciacus, once situated on the Roman road from Trier to Metz and on to the Mediterranean, is at present a building-site – with a visitors’ centre. The remains of the rows of stone seats need better protection from the weather, so that it is planned to build an imposing modern roof to replace the existing provisional structure. Above the village of dalheim, near the eagle monument, the remains of the vicus of Ricciacus can be seen. It was once a bustling staging post with streets of shops, the baths, and the massive theatre. Only a small section of it is visible today. However the Grand duchy of Luxembourg has great plans for this historical site.

Theatre: Rue Neie Wee, L-5687 dalheim; geo-coordinates: 49.54082° N / 6.25703° E

036 ★

“tonn” burial mound, flaxweiler

Whether a lofty stone funerary monument or a monumental burial mound, there can be no denying that the Romans were keen on imposing last resting places, generally situated on busy roads and visible from far away. The burial mound “Tonn” near Flaxweiler, today overgrown with bushes and trees, is still conspicuous. An early excavation beneath the massive earthen mound in the 19th century revealed an octagonal sandstone burial chamber that could be accessed by a long passage to place the urns of the dead in it. The present situation near the busy A1 Trier-Luxemburg motorway would certainly have pleased those buried beneath it.

Site: on the CR122 between Flaxweiler and dreiborn; geo-coordinates: 49.65595° N / 6.35370° E

037 ★★

funerary monument, grevenmacher-potaschberg

The funerary monument in Grevenmacher-Potaschberg used to be an imposing 12 m high, but only parts of it have been recon- structed. Who will have built themselves such an outstanding stone memorial? They were certainly not poor. The decoration includes representations of mythical scenes, as well as scenes from the every- day life of an affluent wine-making family. The monument stands amidst of an enclosed cemetery that invites you to linger.

034 Funerary monument Bech-Kleinmacher

035 Vicus Ricciacus dalheim

037 Funerary monument, Grevenmacher-Potaschberg

039 Musée National d’Histoire et d’Art, Luxembourg town

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040 ★(★)

Celtic oppidum and roman theatre kastel-staadt

A spectacular view 200 m down to the eddies of the Saar: the Celtic tribe of the Treveri already lived here on the rocky promontory and left behind traces of a town-like settlement, as well as an imposing fortification that is still visible and can be walked round. Later the Romans built a large sanctuary with a cult theatre which has been partially reconstructed. The site is famous for its romantic hermitage, which houses Schinkel’s funerary chapel for John, the blind King of Bohemia, and a tranquil Ehrenfriedhof (cemetery of honour). On the 8.8 km of the Kasseler Felsenpfad (rock path - dream loop to the Saar-Hunsrück-Steig), in addition to the historical treasures the countryside also offers unusual attractions, a stunning panorama with a wide, fascinating all-round view of the Saar valley, the idyllic Pinschbach valley with its gently babbling brook, as well as the monumental Altfels, which can be climbed.

Car park at the end of König-Johann-Stra-ße, d-54441 Kastel-Staadt; geo-coordinates: 49.56696° N / 6.56728° E

041 ★

funerary monument “widdertshäuschen”, serrig

The Widderts- or Wichtelhäuschen (Gnomes’ House), hidden in a meadow close to the 33 km long Saar cycle path, is full of mysteries. Mighty blocks of stone were stacked to form a house complete with gable in order to provide a grave for three people. Very hard work for the ancient undertakers… and an interesting stop for the modern visitor, who can take a moment’s quiet break from his thirst for exer-cise and cycling. Not far from the Widdertshäuschen is the Hofgut Serrig, an organic fruit and vegetable farm that also keeps livestock and has a farm shop. The old vineyard railway offers entertaining trips around the farm.

Martinusstraße, d-54455 Serrig geo-coordinates: 49.56856° N / 6.58133° E

042 ★★★

temple and vicus, tawern

Hospitality has a long tradition in Tawern. The name is derived from the Roman word for a hostelry, “taberna”. Traces of tradesmen and craftsmen, of hostels and inns have been discovered along the old Roman road from Trier to Metz and can be viewed. A 1:75 scale model shows what the centre of Tabernae looked like in Roman times. The nearby sanctuary on the Metzenberg was a place to ensure the favour of the gods before setting off on a journey. The temple area and a large secular building have been excavated and partially reconstructed. A statue of Mercury testifies to the piety of the Romans. St. James’s pilgrim way passes by here, as does the Mercury Tour for mountain bikers and the Elbling Route for wine lovers. Walkers can combine exploring the sanctuary along an 8 km footpath with the joys of a freshly brewed beer at the Mannebach private brewery.

Sanctuary: Bachstraße, d-54456 Tawern, Vicus: In den Brühlmorgen, d-54456 Tawern geo-coordinates: Sanctuary: 49.66444° N / 6.50973° E; Vicus: 49.66868° N / 6.51602° E

043 ★★

imperial villa, konz

An important ancient route passed through the region around the confluence of the Saar and the Mosel. The site of Contio- nacum – today Konz – was chosen to construct a splendid residence for the Roman emperor Valentinian I, who not only enjoyed its cooling joys during the summer months, but also passed legislation here. He could revel in the wonderful view of both rivers and of the surrounding gentle hills. The poet Ausonius was a guest in the 4th century, and allowed himself to be inspired to atmospheric lines by the attractions of the countryside. A trip with the White Fleet (Weisse Flotte) on the Mosel or Saar gives you an idea of the Mediterranean atmosphere that awaited him in the villa. Remains of the walls have survived and provide a glimpse of the technical perfection of Roman life: for example a heating channel with a firing chamber for the bath wing. These

Potaschberg, L-6776 Grevenmacher- Potaschberg geo-coordinates: 49.67433° N / 6.39190° E

038 ★

roadside cemetery in „weiler“ woods between wasserbillig and lellig

A thematic footpath leads from Wasserbil-lig to the „Weiler“ woods, where there are a number of Roman graves beside the old Roman main road from Trier to the Ardennes. Walled family plots, pillar monuments and tombstones still keep the memory alive in all those who pass by on the path and seek peace and quiet by the old graves. The traffic is long since quiet on the old Roman road. Walk from milestone to milestone to the cemetery and back: c. 13 km, start at the border crossing at Wasserbillig (milestone).

Site of the cemetery: on the CR141 to Mompach; geo.coordinates: 49.72563° N / 6.46009° E

039 ★★★

musée national d’histoire et d’Art, luxembourg town

All Roman art and gold treasures from the Luxembourg Mosel are kept and displayed in the Luxembourg National Museum for History and Art, for example the finely worked statue of Minerva from the vicus in dalheim. The truly impressive collection of ancient finds from Luxembourg is displayed in the underground rooms of the modern museum, which fascinatingly incorporates into the galleries behind glass walls the rock into which they were hewn. From floor to floor the visitor climbs through the ages to the present day.

Marché-aux-Poissons, L- 2345 Luxem-bourg, tel. 00352-4793301 geo-coordinates: 49.61157° N / 6.13369° E

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046 ★★★

igel Column (igeler säule), igel

In the midst of the bustling upper Mosel village the 23 m high funerary monument still stands exactly where it was built some 1,700 years ago. It is richly decorated with mythological scenes and motifs from the everyday Roman life of the family of the Secundini, wealthy cloth producers and merchants. The only reason it survived the iconoclastic ravages of the Middle Ages was that it was believed to be the grave of the saintly Helena, the mother of the em-peror Constantine. Today the Igel column is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is to be found, half hidden, on the main street behind the hotel of the same name, and is freely accessible.

Trierer Straße 41 (Hotel Igeler Säule), d-54298 Trier-Igel geo-coordinates: 49.70898° N / 6.54978° E

047 ★★★

st peter’s cathedral trier

Once a huge double church stretched from the present cathedral to the Haup-tmarkt. It’s origins can be traced back to Constantine the Great, and the mighty cathedral of St Peter which you see today would surely have appeared quite small by comparison. As a result of an agreement with the emperor Licinius reached in Milan in 313, the persecution of the Christians came to an end and they were granted religious freedom. A first large basilica was built over a residential house in Trier, the remains of which can be visited in the excavations under the dom-Information (guided tours only). Every generation from Late Antiquity to the present day has left its artistic and architectural mark on the cathedral. Its most valuable relic is the Heiliger Rock, which according to legend is Christ’s tunic and was brought to Trier by Constantine’s mother, Helena.

domfreihof, d-54290 Trier, tel. +49 (0)651-9790790 (dom-Information) geo-coordinates: 49.75641° N / 6.64354° E

remnants of past times are closely linked with St Niklaus’s church, for which the famous artist Georg Meistermann painted the pictures for the altar.

Martinstraße 22, d-54329 Konz geo-coordinates: 49.69515° N / 6.57454° E

044 ★

via Caliga, palzem – wincheringen

Wincheringen: the Via Caliga covers a total distance of 24 km. For those looking for a shorter tour, there is a 21 km circular route near Palzem, or a 19 km circular route near Wincheringen. The path is named after the Latin word for the strapped boots worn by Roman soldiers: caliga. Experiencing what the ancient road was like is worthwhile, not just for the unique, almost southern European landscape; there is also exciting information available on more than 20 information boards along the path, which is part of the Mosel.Erlebnis.Route. You can stop off at numerous shelters and picnic sites, or refresh yourself at vineyards and other gastronomic highlights.

Start Wincheringen: at the railway station; geo-coordinates: 49.60952° N / 6.40742° E; start Palzem: in the centre of the village at the church; geo-coordinates: 49.56484° N / 6.37440° E

045 ★★★

grutenhäuschen, igel

Get married in a small Roman temple – it’s possible in the Grutenhäuschen. That is the name for the reconstructed prestigious funerary monument from the 3rd century Ad between Langsur and Igel. It consists of two stories with an open, accessible burial chamber. The elegant structure is situated in the midst of romantic vineyards with a perfect view of the upper Mosel. The remains of a Roman villa were discovered not far away. Various thematic paths pass through the area, while the Löwener Mühle vineyard nearby is testimony to the quality of the wines that grow around the Grutenhäuschen.

d-54298 Igel-Liersberg geo-coordinates: 49.71627° N/6.53214° E

042 Temple complex Tawern

043 Imperial villa, Konz

045 Grutenhäuschen Igel

046 Igeler Säule

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048 ★★★

museum am dom, trier

The Cathedral and diocese Museum can offer those who are interested in art an ex-tensive collection of Christian works from two millennia, from early Christianity to the present day. In this respect Trier is a real treasure trove! The highlight of the exhi-bition is the painting from the ceiling of a Roman house found beneath the cathed-ral. It is regarded as one of the most im-portant work of late Antique art. There are other spectacular finds to see, for example early Christian paintings from beneath St Maximin’s Abbey. The collection is drawn from the entire Bishopric of Trier. The mo-dern museum, now flooded with light, was once a royal Prussian prison.

Bischof-Stein-Platz 1, d-54290 Trier, tel. +49 (0)651-7105-255 geo-coordinates: 49.75682° N / 6.64479° E

049 ★★★

viehmarkt roman baths, trier

Ancient meets modern: the impressive remains of the third baths for the Roman inhabitants of Augusta Treverorum were discovered in 1987 during building work for an underground car park beneath the Viehmarkt in the heart of the city. The fa-mous architect Oskar Mathias Ungers built a highly modern glass cube over the ruins, which dominates the square. As a result the site not only attracts visitors interested in history to the old walls, but also friends of architecture. Temporary exhibitions and events are staged in the unusual space.

Viehmarktplatz, d-54290 Trier, tel. +49 (0)651-9941057 geo-coordinates: 49.75274° N / 6.63765° E

050 ★★★

rheinisches landesmuseum, trier

Fans of the Romans just have to visit the museum. Here you can find, among other things, the most extensive exhibition in Germany on all aspects of life in the first four centuries of the Christian era. The permanent exhibition presents the foun-dation of Augusta Treverorum, the oldest city in Germany, massive funerary monu-ments with lively scenes of everyday life, splendid mosaics from the Roman imperial palace, the world’s largest hoard of Roman

gold, the internal decoration of the Barba-rathermen, among the largest and most impressive baths in the Roman Empire, and much more. Audio-visual facilities include twelve media stations and audio guides in several languages, also available in versions for children. Besides changing temporary exhibitions the museum also presents the multimedia theatre “In the Kingdom of the Shadows”, which brings everyday life in Roman Trier alive.

Weimarer Allee 1, d-54290 Trier, tel. +49 (0)651-97740 geo-coordinates: 49.75132° N / 6.64421° E

051 ★★★

the basilica of Constantine, trier

The Basilica of Constantine was built around Ad 310 as the reception and throne room of the imperial palace, and with an interior 67 metres long and 33 metres high is the largest single room that has still sur-vived from the ancient world. Organ con-certs that take place here are spectacular: the instrument’s echo lasts for seven se-conds. The building is now used as a chur-ch and evangelical-protestant services are conducted in it. The interior is imposing in its dignified simplicity, and the wooden ceiling which spans the enormous room quite remarkable. Situated at the edge of the city centre, the Basilica dominates the town and is one of the stations on the UNESCO World Heritage thematic route.

Konstantinplatz, d-54290 Trier, tel. +49 (0)651-42570 geo-coordinates: 49.75327° N / 6.64327° E

052 ★★★

the roman bridge, trier

Sturdy and robust, today the bridge serves car drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. The 400 m long Roman bridge was built in the second century Ad, a thoroughly stable structure that replaced an earlier, more fragile wooden bridge on the same site.

047 St Peter’s Cathedral Trier

048 Museum am dom Trier

049 Viehmarkt baths

050 Landesmuseum Trier

051 Basilica of Constantine Trier

o n m o s e l – s A A r➔

Seven piers stand on the river bed, two more on the banks. The architectural elements visible today include the Roman piers and Gothic arches. Here today’s traffic flows over one of the oldest bridges north of the Alps.

St. Barbara-Ufer/ Johanniterufer, d-54290 Trier geo-coordinates: 49.75181° N / 6.62784° E

053 ★★★

Amphitheatre, trier

The amphitheatre was built in the late 2nd century Ad, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. In days gone by the ancient entertainment venue, where gladiators and wild beasts fought, could hold some 20,000 people. Apart from the arena and the passageways for spectators, today you can see a large underground room which probably once housed a lift that could transport the participants onto the stage quickly and efficiently. You can also see the original wooden beams of a piston pump that was used to drain off water. Although today the rows of seats are covered with grass: once again there is a school for gladiators that offers workshops and guided tours for groups of visitors. In addition, in the evening an actor in the role of the gladiator Valerius conducts regular tours of the fighting arena and recounts tales from his life.

Olewiger Str., d-54295 Trier, tel. +49 (0)651-73010 geo-coordinates: 49.74702° N / 6.64891° E

054 ★★★

barbarathermen baths, trier

The Barbarathermen are among the largest surviving Roman baths. They were built in the second century Ad and – in contrast to the Imperial Baths, which were probably never completed – provided luxurious bathing facilities for the inhabitants of the town. Remains of the splendid interior decoration are to be seen in the Rheini-sches Landesmuseum. The foundations, underground passages and remains of the underfloor heating are preserved and provide an insight into the high level of Roman technology. However, today’s visitor can only view the site from the visitors’ terrace. At present the baths are closed for restoration work.

Südallee, d-54290 Trier; geo-coordinates: 49.75034° N / 6.63091° E

055 ★★★

imperial baths, trier

The palace baths, the Kaiserthermen or Imperial Baths, were intended as the pinnacle of luxurious bathing culture. But the building, which would have been one of the largest Roman baths, was never completed and never used. There is evidence that it was later employed as a military barracks. A professional actor playing the role of the “Tribune Mallobau-des” regularly provides an entertaining insight into the times. The extensive network of underground heating and service passages are vivid testimony to just how gigantic the “wellness temple” was intended to be. Among the things to see, the lines traced by a Roman builder’s compass on the plaster are particularly interesting. Today the Imperial Baths serve as an open air stage and venue within the town.

Weberbach, d-54290 Trier, tel. +49 (0)651-4362550 geo-coordinates: 49.75045° N / 6.64139° E

056 ★★★

porta nigra, trier

The city gate, blackened with soot, is the trademark of Germany’s oldest city. Built of sandstone blocks weighing up to six tonnes, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Roman gate was erected about Ad 180, and is the best preserved of its kind north of the Alps. It houses the re-mains of a double church, and is adjoined by the medieval Simeonstift, home to the City Museum. Situated in the middle of the pedestrian precinct, and surrounded by the bustle of modern urban life, restaurants and shops, the Porta Nigra offers a fine view. As with the Imperial Baths and the Amphitheatre, theatrical guided tours are available.

Entrance Stadtmuseum Simeonstift, Simeonstr. 60, d-54290 Trier,tel. +49 (0)651-7181459; geo-coordinates: 49.75964° N / 6.64365° E

052 The Roman Bridge Trier

053 Amphitheatre

054 Barbarathermen Baths Trier

055 Imperial Baths

057 ★

summer palace, trier-pfalzel

Pfalzel, a suburb of Trier on the Eifel bank of the Mosel, can trace its origins back to a Roman settlement. The remains of the walls of a fortified palace are preserved in several places, including in the area of the present parish church. The medieval village centre is situated directly on the Mosel cycle path, and is an ideal stop for the restless time traveller: here you will find fine restaurants, and from the bank of the Mosel there is a wonderful view of the river and pleasure boats or gentle barges as they pass by.

Kirchplatz, d-54293 Trier geo-coordinates: 49.78075° N / 6.69460° E

058 ★★

ruwer valley roman Aqueduct, waldrach

The provincial capital at Trier already drew part of its water supply from the Ruwer valley. Part of an aqueduct that was large enough to walk through was found near Waldrach, and a reconstruction can be vie-wed in a car park in the Ruwertalstrasse. The underground aqueduct was built in the 2nd century Ad, and it has been calcula-ted that it could convey the same amount of water as the annual consumption of the Mosel metropolis today. Nothing has chan-ged: today Trier still draws water from the Ruwer Valley. A section that is well worth viewing can be found directly next to the Ruwer-Hochwald cycle path.

Bahnhofstraße, d-54230 Waldrach geo-coordinates: visible section: 49.74630° N / 6.74103° E; reconstruction: 49.74016° N / 6.74275° E

059 ★

Cellar of a roman villa, kenn

Life in Kenn in the 2nd century Ad had style and was luxurious. Numerous finds from a luxurious Roman villa – including columns, marble panels, the remains of mosaics and wall paintings, as well as pas-sageways, vaults and walls – bear witness to a luxurious Roman villa. All that can be seen today is a long Roman cellar with three sections next to the Heimatmuseum, and the copy of a Roman statue – a spring nymph. The underground room is someti-

mes used for wine-tastings. It is open from Easter to November Sundays only from 2 – 4 pm or by appointment. The front cellar is open, the two at the back can be viewed through a grill.

Heimatmuseum Kenn, Im Ecken 11, d-54344 Kenn, tel. +49 (0)6502-2391 geo-coordinates: 49.80054° N / 6.72565° E

060 ★★

longuich villa urbana

The partial reconstruction of a Roman vil-la can be visited among the vineyards of Longuich, near to the Moseltal motorway junction at Schweich. Only part of it has been excavated and studied so far, but it must have been huge and impressive. Today you can see the baths of the main building, and close by a vineyard modelled on a Roman original. In front of the buil-ding is a stone sarcophagus in which the skeleton of a delicate girl lay, together with a spherical glass with a funnel-shaped neck among the grave goods. There are guided tours from April to October on Sun-days at 10.30 am. In addition, if you want on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer season (from May to October) you can visit a vineyard festival at the “Treffpunkt Win-zerhof”.

Access via the roundabout on the Trierer Str., d-54340 Longuich, tel. +49 (0)6502-1716; geo-coordinates: 49.80403° N / 6.76485° E

061 ★★

mehring villa rustica

In the middle of Mehring (on the right bank of the Mosel) a Roman villa has been partially reconstructed. Although it seems quite modest today, once it was one of the largest and most impressive villas in the region around Trier. The increasing wealth and agricultural success of the owners is evident in the various phases of the building. The once proud house fell victim to Germanic invaders – like so many others – and the ruins were apparently later occupied by Franks. The villa is not far from the cycle path and is a good stopping off point. There are guided tours from Easter to October on Sundays at 11.30 am. There is an exhibition in the Heimatmuseum.

056 Porta Nigra Trier

060 Longuich villa urbana

058 RuwerValley Roman Aqueduct

062 Mehring villa rustica

063 Aqueduct Pölich

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Villa rustica: In der Kirchheck, 54346 Mehring, Heimat- and Wine Museum Mehring, Bachstr. 47, d-54346 Mehring,

tel. +49 (0)6502-1413; (TI Mehring) geo-coordinates: 49.79411° N / 6.83437° E

062 ★★

water supply for a roman villa, pölich

A bit of a thirst for adventure is important: you can visit the channel of a Roman aqueduct not far from a villa near Pölich. The channel is 1.20 m high and half a metre wide, and is openly accessible. It was carved out of the slate hillside and apparently supplied the baths of a large Roman villa. Such luxury was not uncommon then, and bears testimony not just to the remarkable technical skills of the Romans – but also to their enormous water consumption. There is a small information centre about the aqueduct in the neighbouring old fire station. A 1 km circular path leads to interesting points.

Im Weinberg, d-54340 Pölich geo-coordinates: 49.79719° N / 6.84723° E

063 ★★

roman path trittenheim-minheim

For serious walkers the 20 kilometres of the thematic path and climb “Römersteig” offers a breathtaking route connecting the ancient treasures between Trittenheim and Minheim. The famous stone wine ship from Neumagen-dhron was found here, and its reconstruction now plies the Mosel with its passengers. The town lay on the Roman road from Trier via Bingen to Mainz, and the path follows it for part of the way. Replicas of funerary monuments or a wine cellar among the vineyards on the slopes of the “Piesporter Goldtröpfchen” (Piesport Golden drop) recount stories from the ancient world for walkers. Infor-mation boards invite you take occasional, informative breaks. The views from the “Römersteig” down to the Mosel are spec-tacular, and at the same time rambling wi-ne-lovers can enjoy some of the best wine districts on the Mosel.

Starting points: e.g. bridges over the Mosel at Trittenheim: 49.82192° N / 6.90348° E Neumagen-dhron: 49.85732° N / 6.89117° E and Piesport: 49.88621° N / 6.91660° E

064 ★★★

roman Centre neumagen-dhron

Roman Noviomagus, present-day Neumagen, is thought to be the oldest wine-making town in Germany. The tombstones of rich citizens and merchants were re-used in the walls of the late Roman fort, and provide a very lively picture of everyday Roman life. The famous funerary monuments from Neumagen can today be seen in the Landesmuseum in Trier, but copies mark the stations of a circular archaeological path. At the 17 stations you can see, among other things, the famous wine ship, a school scene, a hairdressing scene, rent being paid, etc. The highlight is an authentic reconstruction of the wine ship, the Stella Noviomagi, which offers short river trips at the weekend. There is a multimedia centre near the quay, with information on the history of the original and the building of the reconstruction. There are tours from May to October on Fridays and Saturdays.

The circular walk starts at the Tourist Information Office Neumagen-dhron, Hinterburg 8, d-54347 Neumagen-dhron, tel. +49 (0)6507-6555; geo-coordinates: 49.84993° N / 6.89404° E

065 ★★

winery, piesport

The important role Piesport played as a wine-making centre in Roman times is not just testified to in some verses from Ausonius’s poem “Mosella”, but also in numerous archaeological finds; for example a glass cage cup, a wine goblet consisting of two layers ground from a single block of glass, or the “imperial brooch”, a fastener for a cloak which the emperor Constantine granted to an important person on the occasion of the 10th jubilee of his accession. Both are today in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Trier. But the most spectacular discoveries in Piesport were made in 1985 and 1991. On the edge of the famous slopes of the “Piesporter Goldtröpfchen” the remains of Roman wineries dating to the 4th and 2nd centuries Ad were found not far apart. The 4th-century winery has been authentically reconstructed.

Ausoniusufer, d-54498 Piesport geo-coordinates: 49.88582° N / 6.91131° E

066 ★★

winery, erden

Here a partially reconstructed Roman wine-cellar is situated at the foot of the Erdener Prälat and Erdener Treppchen vineyards. The walls, some with a herring-bone pat-tern, are remarkably well preserved and make for an interesting stop directly on the Mosel cycle path and the B 53 main road. A steep path runs up into the vineyards and illustrates just how hard work used to be in the vineyards, and indeed still is (length: 2.9 to 4.3 km). The view into the Mosel val-ley is of course stunning, and it is impres-sive how the terraces of the vineyards hug the rocky slopes. The Roman winery in the valley not only provides an insight into Ro-man wine-making methods, but also has a function room in which events can be sta-ged all year round.

Winery opposite the village of Erden, on the other side of the Mosel; geo-coordinates: 49.98151° N / 7.02759° E

067 ★★

winery, brauneberg

dulcis mons – sweet mountain – was what the Romans called the ridge at the foot of which the Brauneberg wine-cellar is to be found; and the name certainly had something to do with wine. The vineyards here are called “Brauneberger Juffer”, and are highly rated among wine connoisseurs. The Roman winery is on the left bank of the Mosel opposite Brauneberg, directly on the B 53 main road. It is an ideal stop for visitors to the Mosel, whether in a car, a mobile home or on a motorcycle. The Mo-sel.Erlebnis.Route leads walkers to it. You can test just how well Mosel wine and Ro-man food go together in the Brauneberger Hof in Brauneberg.

geo-coordinates winery: 49.91394° N / 6.99598° E

068 ★★

winery, maring-noviand

In Maring-Noviand, near the famous half-timbered town of Bernkastel-Kues, vines were already grown in Roman times. Here the remains of a large Roman farm can be seen, which included a winery among its agricultural buildings. This is quite unusual, since all other ancient wine-ries we know of were built directly in the vineyards. In order to protect the valuable remains, a protective structure has been

P a g e 52

erected over the mash, pressing and fer-mentation basins, and can be viewed by appointment. A heavy sandstone which can be seen outside probably served as the weight for a screw press.

Opening times: normally Saturday mornings by appointment, Tel.: (+49)06535-944200. An der Römerkelter, d-54484 Maring-Noviand, geo-coordinates: 49.92620° N / 6.98143° E

069 ★★

villa romana, veldenz

The discovery of the Roman villa was curi-ous: when an existing historical building was being renovated in 1990/1991, it was planned to add a cellar. The surprise was great when the work uncovered some Ro-man baths, and the old building gained not just a cellar, but also a tourist attrac-tion. If the owners of the half-timbered house had known that a wellness oasis was slumbering beneath their feet, then perhaps they would have grabbed a spade earlier. Today there is a small museum of the history of the town in the Villa Romana, as the “Haus des Gastes” is now called, as well as a coin collection and changing temporary art exhibitions. Here you can buy pretty souvenirs and books, and there is also a cosy place to buy drinks.

Villa Romana, Hauptstraße 28, d-54472 Veldenz, tel. +49 (0)6534-1203 geo-coordinates: 49.88942° N / 7.02327° E

070 ★(★)

roman villa, wittlich

The once opulent villa in the Lieser valley near Wittlich had to make way for pro-gress: the columns of a motorway bridge put an abrupt end to the country idyll. But that was always part of life: new roads for prosperity and progress. The remains of the Roman villa have now been preserved and are open to the public. They are em-bedded in an excellent touristic infrastruc-ture, for example in the premium circu-lar path “Säubrenner Route”. This tour is an adventure trail along the Eifelsteig , a “Toptrail of Germany”. A nordic walking path and a cycle path joined to the Maare-Mosel cycle path links the villa and the town. And of course it is easy to reach by car. Further investments in the touristic infrastructure are planned. Tip: Signposted circular path no. 6 from Viehmarktplatz in Wittlich, length c. 7 km Map no 24 from the Eifelverein

geo-coordinates: 49.97270° N / 6.90138° E

071 ★★

„straße der römer“ in Zell (mosel)

The town of Zell (Mosel), today a bustling tourist centre, was once a Roman sett-lement with luxurious buildings. The re-mains of the baths in the Heimatmuseum, and the ash cist on the bank of the Mosel as a resting place for the deceased, still bear witness to the old settlement. There was once a hill-top temple high above the town on the Beinter Kopf, from where there is still a wonderful view of the Mosel val-ley. A thematic path “Straße der Römer” (length: 18.2 km) leads from the town up to the remains of the old walls and on into the Altlayer Bach valley. There, deep in the woods, was a refuge for the populati-on from marauding hoards of barbarians. Today the fortification is known as the “Alteburg”, and unusually well preserved remains of the walls wait to be discovered here.

Starting point: Schwarze Katz Brunnen / Rathaus, Balduinstrasse 44, d-56856 Zell/Mosel; the Heimatmuseum is in the town hall (Rathaus), tel. +49 (0)6542-96220; geo-coordinates: Beinter Kopf: 50.012429° N / 7.179171° E, Alteburg: 49.995640° N / 7.230269° E

072 ★

stone chamber tomb, st. Aldegund

Although the Romans were quite ingenious in the ways they buried their dead, a stone chamber grave such as the one in St. Aldegund is nevertheless a rarity. It is certainly worth making the detour from the Moselweinstrasse or the Mosel cycle path. It was constructed of massive stone slabs, and was the last resting place of a Roman lady who was buried with valuable grave goods, including a small fine blue glass ship. However there are only Photos of the

063 Römersteig

065 Winery Piesport

066 Winery Erden

067 Winery Brauneberg

064 Roman Centre Neumagen-dhron

069 Villa Romana Veldenz

074 Hill-top temple on the Calmont

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o n m o s e l – s A A r➔

treasures at the site itself; to see the originals you will have to travel to the Landesmuseum at Festung Ehrenbreitstein. For art lovers another grave is to be recommended; in the old hilltop chapel on the slopes the famous art collector Peter Ludwig found his last resting place.

Stone chamber grave: Klosterkammerstr. 71, d-56858 St. Aldegund; hilltop chapel: a footpath leads from the street „Auf der Teusch“ through the vineyards and gardens up to the church; geo-coordinates tomb: 50.07415° N / 7.12889° O

073 ★

hilltop fortification on the petersberg, neef

Within sight of the cross at the summit of the Calmont there was a hilltop fortifica-tion in later Roman times – as hordes of barbarians threatened life and soul – high above Neef. The site is also part of the Calmont-Region cultural path. The Roman troops will have had an excellent view of the Mosel valley from the “Eulenköpfchen” and the area around the picturesque cha-pel of St Peter. Today you have to be a bit of a detective to find the remains of the fortification, but the panorama is just fan-tastic. Within easy walking distance are the pretty ruins of the Kloster Stuben, a po-pular motif for photographers. You can get there either by footpaths with fine views, or else comfortably and over level ground along the Mosel cycle path.

geo-coordinates: 50.09870° N / 7.13335° E

074 ★★

hilltop temple on the Calmont, Calmont-region

Which gods were worshipped here high above the Calmont, Europe’s steepest vineyard, between Bremm and Ediger-El-ler? Perhaps Succellus, the god of wine? We don’t know. Recently a Roman hilltop temple was reconstructed at the highest point of the Calmont, opposite the Kloster Stuben, the picturesque ruins of an old church. Both religious houses are connec-ted by the Calmont-Region cultural path, an enjoyable walk with steep sections sui-table for all ages (length: 7 to 9 km). If you take the path to the cross at the summit at

the weekend, then – when you get there – you can enjoy one or two glasses of wine from the steep vineyards. Getting down is never a problem. And in the neighbouring villages of Ediger-Eller and Bremm cosy restaurants and wine-cellars invite you to refresh yourself.

Railway station in Eller; geo-coordinates car park nearest the temple: 50.10405° N / 7.10408° E

075 ★★

double chamber grave, nehren

The Mosel valley must have been densely populated. Rich villas and the homes and workplaces of the simple populati-on lined the fertile banks. Ships plied the Mosel and transported goods to all over the world. Nehren too was probably once the site of a large Roman villa. Wine was produced here, as the stone weight from a Roman wine press testifies. The landow-ners perhaps found their last resting place high above their house along an impor-tant Roman road with a wonderful view of the Mosel valley. The two small funerary temples have now been reconstructed. Wall paintings from the left-hand burial chamber have survived – and that is quite remarkable – and can be viewed through a window. The village of Nehren and the double tomb are connected by a thematic path. (length 4.5 km)

Starting point: village square by Nehren village hall and fire station. geo-coordinates car park on the K22: 50.09044° N / 7.18253° E

076 ★

Archaeological path, brutting-fankel

An old Celtic and Roman road runs right through the woods above Bruttig-Frankel. Along it are groups of burial mounds from various ages. More recent are a defensi-ve dyke and a system of medieval sunken roads. The centuries are so close together that it is hard to believe that so much time separates them. Sooner or later all mankind’s achievements are reclaimed by nature, so carefully preserving their traces – as long as man doesn’t deliberately des-troy them. A classroom in the woods offers school groups the chance to learn in the open air. (Length 2.5 km).

geo-coordinates car park on the K35: 50.14856° N / 7.25844° E

071 Straße der Römer Zell (Mosel)

078 Stiftsmuseum Treis-Karden

075 double Chamber Grave Nehren

077 Martberg Pommern

081 Culture Park Bliesbruck-Reinheim

080 Fortification Ehrenbreitstein

082 Museum für Vor-und Frühgeschichte Saarbrücken

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077 ★★★

martberg Archaeological park, pommern

On the Martberg you really do feel close to the gods. Here the Celts already had a town with an extensive temple that re- mained important throughout the Ro-man period. Lenus-Mars was worshipped here and many a sick person came to be healed, as votive gifts indicate. Until the Christians arrived and put a final end to the pagan cult. Today part of the sanctua-ry they destroyed has been reconstructed and provides an attractive destination for day-trippers and walkers with a thirst for history. The Lenus-Mars path leads up on-to the hill from Karden, and then on down to Pommern (length 5 km). By car you can drive almost to the temple, and a shuttle bus runs at the weekend.

d-56829 Pommern, tel. +49(0)2672-9157700 geo-coordinates: 50.17892° N / 7.28567° E

078 ★★★

stiftsmuseum, treis-karden

In the small Stiftsmuseum in Treis-Karden, behind the collegiate church (Stiftskir-che) in the medieval collegiate building, the finds from the Romano-Celtic temple on the Martberg and the treasures from the medieval canon foundation of St Cas-tor invite you on a journey through 2,000 years of religious history. Whether it was the temple of Lenus-Mars or the venerable collegiate area, which had its origins in the work of St Castor as a missionary: the holy sites had an enormous religious influence that today only the relics can convey. From Karden the Lenus-Mars path takes you up to the Martberg Archaeological Park (dis-tance 3 km).

St. Castor-Str. 2, d-56253 Treis-Karden, entrance next to the Stiftskirche. tel. +49 (0)2672-9157700 (Tourist-Info) geo-coordinates: 50.18360° N / 7.30185° E

079 ★

roman villa, winningen

A Roman villa on the motorway: the owner certainly would not have chosen this as the site for his house. But today the traffic surely doesn’t bother him. On the contrary, his present-day visitors have the advan-tage of excellent transport infrastructure and can always find a parking space at the nearby motorway services – within wal-king distance of the villa. A model of the villa and a few finds are displayed in the museum in Winningen, and there is also a display about Winningen’s honorary citi-zen August Horch, the founder of Audi. A detour to the pretty village on the Mosel is certainly worthwhile.

Roman villa: motorway A 61, near the motorway services Winningen-Ost; Museum Winningen: Schulstraße 5, d-56333 Winningen, tel. +49 (0)2606-2214 or 2126; geo-coordinates villa: 50.31783° N / 7.50058° E

080 ★★★

landesmuseum in der festung ehrenbreitstein, koblenz

High above the confluence of Mosel and Rhine sits the Festung Ehrenbreitstein, once a military bulwark and today a po-pular destination for days out. It houses a Landesmuseum in which Celtic and Roman objects from the surrounding area can be seen, including the precious grave goods from St. Aldegund, finds from the Mart-berg, and a valuable Roman army dragon standard. In 2010 a cable car up to the fortress was opened. Visitors who want to learn about the military history of the site should enjoy a guided tour through the bastions and walls with a actor playing the role of the “eternal soldier”.

Festung Ehrenbreitstein, d-56077 Koblenz, tel. +49 (0)261-66750 geo-coordinates: 50.36633° N / 7.61600° E

081 ★★★

european Culture park bliesbruck-reinheim, gersheim-reinheim

In the middle of the Bliesgau UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, on the Franco-German border, is a rather special archaeological park: German and French scholars have excavated archaeological features from several centuries over an area of more than 70 ha. The grave of the famous Reinheim Celtic Princess was found here, and visitors can see an impressive walk-in reconstruction of the burial. directly next to it are the foundations of what was once an ornate Roman villa with an imposing main building, and partially reconstructed outhouses. Also well worth visiting: the fine public baths and the remains of the small Gallo-Roman town. Interesting programme of events.

Robert-Schuman-Str. 2, d-66453 Gersheim-Reinheim, tel. +49 (0)6843-900211; geo-coordinates: 49.13505° N / 7.18343° E

082 ★★★

museum für vor- und frühgeschichte, saarbrücken

As the “archaeological showcase” for Saarland, the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte in Saarbrücken displays a wide range of exhibits – from Stone Age hand axes to ornate Merovingian disc brooches of gold and precious stones. The showpiece of the museum’s collection is the famous burial of the Celtic Princess from Reinheim, with her precious jewellery and valuable grave goods. The museum also has an extensive and varied educational programme, and stages frequent temporary exhibitions.

Am Schlossplatz 16, d-66119 Saarbrücken, tel. +49 (0)681-9964-4234 geo-coordinates: 49.23081° N / 6.99146° E

083 ★

mithras-heiligtum, saarbrücken

The followers of the cult of Mithras turned a cave in a cliff in the Halberg in Saarbrü-cken into a temple. The result was a three-aisled room with a nearly 4 m high vaulted ceiling in the middle, and a transept. In the Middle Ages the “Heidengrotte” (heathen grotto) became an attraction for pilgrims. Little is known

i m s A A r l A n d➔

about the ancient mystery religion, which was restricted to men. Mithras, often represented as the sun god, is said to have been sent into the world by a father god in order to save it. He was born in a rocky cave, and is represented as a young man in a Phrygian cap.

Saarländischer Rundfunk visitors’ car park on the Halberg, dr. Franz-Mai-Straße, d-66121 Saarbrücken; from there on foot (signposted, nearly 10 mins) to the cave; geo-coordinates: 49.22259° N / 7.02795° E

084 ★★

emilianusstollen, wallerfangen - st. barbara

The Roman copper mine got its name from an extant Roman inscription which confirms that one Aemilianus started mining operations her on March 7 (unfortunately the year is not mentioned). The inscription is a so-called occupatio, and is a particularly important document on mining law for it is the only one that has survived from the entire Roman Empire. The mine itself is also unusual for traces of Roman tools preserved in the rock face, and the finds from the infill can be dated. The complex is thought to have been appreciably larger than what is known of it today.

Schlossbergstraße, d-66798 Wallerfangen - St. Barbara district (the entrance is some 150 m from the main road). The mine can only be visited on guided tours,tel. +49 (0)6831-444-449 (Landkreis Saarlouis); geo-coordinates approx.: 49.32812° N / 6.68382° E

085 ★

sudelfels temple and spring, ihn near niedaltdorf

At the foot of the Hirnberg are the remains of a Gallo-Roman sanctuary with several small temples within a walled precinct and a secular building, once a Roman farm-stead with outhouses. Visitors can see: stove and steps, underfloor heating and a cold bath. One of the small temples has a hexagonal plan and houses a hexagonal basin that was filled from a spring. Water still bubbles to the surface here. Probably the Celtic spring and mother goddess

Sirona and the fertility goddess Rosmerta were worshipped here, as well as the Roman deities Apollo, Mercury, Minerva and Silvanus.

Site: between Ihn and Niedaltdorf on the L 354; car park; geo-coordinates: 49.33460° N / 6.60774° E

086 ★★

pachten museum and römerpark, dillingen

Housed in an old farmhouse, the objects displayed by the museum include finds from the Stone Age to the Frankish period. The main focus is on the Gallo-Roman vicus of Contiomagus beneath Pachten. It includes a large Roman cremation cemetery, houses, workshops, temple complexes, a cult theatre and large villas. Roman cremation burials and a Frankish inhumation burial have been reconstruc-ted in a darkened room. The museum is adjoined by the Römerpark, a zone for activities and events. A tower from the fort has been reconstructed only a few metres from the park and Ökosee lake, as well as a theatre and a playground based on Roman originals.

Fischerstr. 2, d-66763 dillingen tel. +49 (0)6831-709212; geo-coordinates: 49.35498° N / 6.70843° E

087 ★★★

borg roman villa Archaeological park, perl-borg

The reconstruction of the Roman villa complex presents a fine impression of how pleasant and stylish life was for the privileged 2,000 years ago. You can even experience this yourself, for example with an adventure tour with the slave Jatros. At the villa you can see: gatehouse, main building with baths, gardens with kitchen garden, kitchen, archaeological museum and the current excavations. Tasty Roman and regional dishes are served in the Roman tavern. Roman festival, first weekend in August.

Im Meeswald 1, d-66706 Perl-Borg, tel. +49 (0)6865-91170; geo-coordinates: 49.49642° N / 6.45810° E

088 ★★★

roman villa and tumulus, nennig

With an area of 160 m2 the magnificent mo-saic floor is among the largest and best preserved north of the Alps. It used to decorate the central room of a luxurious Roman villa, and is adorned with scenes from the circus, fights with animals, gladiators and musicians. An informative film provides a vivid impression of what the villa will have looked like in Roman times. The tumulus nearby is also well worth a visit. It is assumed to be the funerary monument of the owner of the villa, and is a small-scale copy of the tomb of Augustus in Rome.

Römerstr. 11, d-66706 Perl-Nennig tel. +49 (0)6866-1329; geo-coordinates: 49.52915 N / 6.38347 E

089 ★★

schwarzenacker roman museum, homburg

Here the visitor can stroll gently through a reconstructed Roman roadside settlement (vicus)! 1,900 years ago some 2,000 people lived here and brought life to the streets with their colonnaded sidewalks and drains. Attractions include; the “Haus des Augenarztes” (optician’s house) with its elegant interior, and the “Säulenkeller-haus”, which gets its name from its cellar with columns. At the crossroads the inhabitants could refresh themselves at “Capitolinus”. The fresh bread which was served there came from the bakery which has been reconstructed. And next door the inn offered travelling merchants, officials, workmen and passers-by board and lodging. In addition: temple with ambula-tory for the god Mercury, and the Edelhaus with Roman finds and other exhibits. In addition: Gallo-Roman temple with ambulatory for the god Mercury, baroque museum building (Edelhaus) with gardens.

Homburger Str. 38, d-66424 Homburg tel. +49 (0)6848-730777; geo-coordinates: 49.28286° N / 7.31616° E

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090 ★

historical footpath kasbruchtal, neunkirchen

The 6 km footpath leads from the car park at the waterworks, or alternatively the car park at the “die Lakai” swimming pool, through the Kasbruchtal nature reserve. detours take you to various historical Roman sites. Among the attractions are a Roman quarry, the “Opferstein” quarry, and the so-called “Jungfernstiege” paths, which lead to Roman cremation burials. The copy of a bronze statue of a figure in armour found here and the fundament of an early Frankish iron smelting furnace are exhibited in the Rathaus (Town Hall) of the county town of Neunkirchen.

Car park „die Lakai“: An der Lakaienschäfe-rei 1, d-66538 Neunkirchen; geo-coordi-nates: 49.32734° N/ 7.19389° E

091 ★★

excavation project wareswald, tholey

A Gallo-Roman settlement is being excava-ted at Wareswald near Tholey. The vicus was once very important and situated at the crossroads of two Roman main roads. The discovery of underfloor heating and elaborate baths testify to the high standard of living of the old inhabi-tants. Free guided tours are available every first Sunday in the month (May to Octo-ber), and amateurs can participate in excavation camps. Information: tel. +49 (0)6853-8540749

Car par "Wendelinus-Rad- und Wanderweg"; geo-coordinates: 49.49194° N / 7.05583° E

092 ★

mithras monument, schwarzerden

The cult statue of the sun god Mithras is all that has survived of a temple that was once situated close to a Roman settle-ment. It portrays Mithras, who is in the process of killing a bull, on horseback. Torch bearers are standing to the left and right of him, one of them holding his torch up high, the other lowering his. The two symbolise the rising and setting sun. Here it is worthwhile combining Roman history with exercise.

The site can be reached on the Fritz-Wun-derlich foot and cycle path. By car: Autobahn A1, exit Reichweiler, then follow the signposts. Car park directly next to the Mithras temple at Schwarzerdener Weiher; geo-coordinates: 49.53708° N / 7.28263° E

093 ★★

monumental burial mound, oberlöstern

In Wadern-Oberlöstern the reconstruction of two rare Roman monumental burial mounds with square enclosing walls from the 2nd century Ad can be visited. Important people must have been buried here. The two neighbouring mounds are 20 m in diameter and were excavated and investigated in the 1990s. Each was crowned with a stone pine cone, and between them was a monumental funerary column. After the completion of the excavation the mounds were reconstructed in their original form. The associated settlement was situated 400 m away.

On the road connecting Wadern-Gehweiler and Wadern-Oberlöstern; geo-coordinates:49.57979° N/6.91390° E

094 ★

Celtic hillfort, otzenhausen

The so-called “Hunnenring” near Otzen-hausen is one of the most impressive fortifications in Europe. The remains of the ramparts are still 10 m high and 40 m wide, and bear witness to these unique Celtic defensive works. Surrounded by the enchanting countryside of the Schwarz- wälder Hochwald, it was once a centre of power of the Celtic Treveri. The nearby princely burial mounds near Schwarzenbach are testimony to its builders. Thematic footpaths and the sculpture path “Cerda & Celtoi”, inspired by the Celts, ensure that your visit is an experience not to be forgotten. There is also a children’s discovery path for kids, as well as annual special events.

Information on the extensive programme of events: Tourist Info Nonnweiler, tel. +49 (0)6873/660-76. Waldparkplatz, Ringwallstra-ße, d-66620 Otzenhausen; geo-coordinates: 49.61602° N / 6.99614° E

084 Emilianusstollen

088 Nennig Roman villa

086 Pachten Museum

087 Borg Roman villa

091 Wareswald excavation project

089 Schwarzenacker Roman Museum

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i n t h e h u n s r Ü C k➔

095 ★★★

Ausonius long-distance path, bingen-trier

Walk along an old Roman main road: for some 107 km from Bingen to Trier the Ausonius long-distance path follows an ancient route along which the Roman poet Ausonius travelled from the Rhine valley to the Mosel. Wherever possible the Romans built their roads as straight as a die, and so too the historical path follows often surprisingly straight tracks through woods and meadows. Hunsrück-Touristik offers Ausonius walkers taking the route various packages that provide the modern tourist with every service they could wish for, including luggage transfer.

Hunsrück-Touristik GmbH, Gebäude 663, d-55483 Hahn-Flughafen, tel. +49 (0)6543-507700

096 ★

haus der regionalen geschichte/ house of regional history, kastellaun

Kastellaun lies in the middle of an old road network. The dense settlement has left its traces here, and Celtic and Roman finds testify to the history of the centre of the Hunsrück. The Sponheimer Berg rises on steep rocky slopes above the centre of the town. The castle buildings beneath it today house the Haus der regionalen Geschich-te, which offers a journey through 3,000 years of Kastellaun’s history. All accompa-nied by an entertaining programme of events, and an event restaurant that specialises in “goings-on in a medieval castle”. For example from June to October there are games, fun and adventure for kids every Sunday midday.

Burg Kastellaun (Unterburg), d-56288 Kastellaun, tel. +49 (0)6762-407214; geo-coordinates: 50.07094° N / 7.43831° E

097 ★★★

belginum Archaeological park, morbach-wederath

The Vicus Belginum, a roadside settle-ment, was always an important station on the road from Bingen to Trier, and had its origins during the reign of Augustus. Today a museum keeps the memory of the old settlement alive, and is an interesting stop for travellers and tourists on the Hunsrück-höhenstrasse, or of course for Ausonius walkers. In the permanent exhibition finds from the cemetery reveal how people lived here earlier. The extensive open-air area, with a reconstructed well, children’s play area and a 2 km circular walk with eight well illustrated information boards invites you on a tour of discovery. Annual temporary exhibitions, lectures and events complement the information on the life of the Celtic and Roman inhabitants of the Hunsrück.

Keltenstr. 2, d-54497 Morbach-Wederath tel. +49 (0)6533-957630; geo-coordinates: 49.85531° N / 7.16434° E

098 ★

hochwaldmuseum, hermeskeil

Of course Celts and Romans lived in Hermeskeil, the name of which strangely includes the name of the winged messenger of the Roman gods. There are numerous traces of scattered pre-Roman settlements: Celtic cemeteries, ancient Celtic tracks, and Roman roads with villas along them. The main focus of the Hochwald-museum as a window onto the past of the region is the presentation and analysis of rural life and work here. What is special about it is not so much the historical exhibits as the varied and captivating way in which the individual themes are presented. “Rheinland-Pfalz Museum Prize for Civil Commitment” 2005.

Trierer Straße 49, d-54411 Hermeskeil tel. +49 (0)6503-953515; geo-coordinates: 49.65598° N / 6.94319° E

093 Burial mound, Oberlöstern

095 Belginum Archaeological Park

097 Belginum Archaeological Park

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gods, graves and gladiators – german-luxembourg tour of the upper mosel

Travel from Germany to Luxembourg and from funerary monument to funerary monument, view the famous Igel column (UNESCO World Heritage Site), funerary temples and gardens, burial mounds and tombstones. At the end the priceless relief of a gladiator and a temple to the god Mercury await you. Start and finishing point are the Kaiserthermen (Imperial baths) in Trier. The route leads through quite idyllic countryside with many views of the Mosel.

tour of sights in the north eifel

This day trip takes you to Roman sanctua-ries for the Matronae and monuments that bear witness to ancient technology: a lime kiln, two stone quarries and an aqueduct. In 2009 archaeologists from the University of Cologne discovered a Roman settlement (vicus) with houses, workshops and late Ro-man fortifications in Nettersheim. The vicus lies directly on the Roman road from Colo-gne to Trier (“Agrippa Strasse”) in the Urft valley. The results of the new excavations are being incorporated into the conception for the “Archaeological Landscape Park Net-tersheim” (to be opened early in 2014). But already the archaeological excavations and activities are worth a visit. When visiting Nettersheim, a walk to “Grüner Putz”, the southernmost catchment spring for the Eifel water conduit to Cologne, is a must. Tip: on Sundays from April to October a Roman coach is on the road in Nettersheim from 11 am to 4 pm.

day trip trier-rom(e)

Indeed! From Trier you can travel by car to Rome and back in one day. And all of that in the footsteps of the Romans. You start at the famous Porta Nigra, visit the “Pütz-löcher” Roman copper mines, the remains of the Hermenweiher decorative pool in Welschbillig, the Roman fort in Bitburg, Otrang Roman villa near Fließem, the excavated burial mound near Strotzbüsch, the Vulkanhaus volcanic museum in Strohn and then stop off in Rom(e). further information at www.strassen-der-roemer.eu

day trip to the saar valley

The idyllic Saar valley between Konz and Saarburg offers a whole range of sights to visit. Start and finishing point are the bridge over the Saar in Konz. The programme inclu-des such attractions as the historical village of Kanzem (where Günther Jauch has his vi-neyard), the listed buildings in Wawern, the “Arbustum – Wine in the Woods” project in Ayl, Saarburg with its historical town centre, Kastel-Staadt with its oppidum and cult the-atre, the chapel of St Michael in Taben-Rodt, the Widdertshäuschen (Gnomes’ House)

near Serrig and the imperial palace in Konz.

mosel tour trier – bernkastel-kues

We follow the Roman wine route, visit villas as well as a Roman aqueduct, travel on the Roman boat Stella Noviomagi, view wineries and climb up to the ruins of Landshut castle in Bernkastel-Kues where spectacular disco-veries have been made: in June 2012, during routine work on the outermost fortification of the castle (the outer bailey), the unusu-ally massive remains of a Roman fort were found. Archaeologists date the remains, which were incorporated into the medieval structure, to the late 4th/early 5th centu-ry. The climb up to the excavation takes about 30 minutes, or else you can take the Landshut Castle express (May – October). The effort is rewarded with a fantastic view into the Mosel valley. Finally we stroll gently through the old town centre of Bernkastel with its numerous narrow cobblestone alleys.

behind the limes

We are curious as to what the region behind the Rhine frontier was like, and how the Romans lived and died here. For this reason we embark on a deliberate day trip to the monuments of the Mosel terrace and the neighbouring heights of the highlands. The starting point is the Ehrenbreitstein fort with its view of the deutsche Eck.

the roman hochwald

We visit the Celts, Romans and their descen-dents in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park. You are certainly recommended to pack your walking boots as Wareswald vicus and Otzenhausen Celtic hillfort are both situated on premium circular paths! What is more, the Celtic hillfort and the museum in Her-meskeil are connected by the Saar-Hunsrück Trail. Of course, you can also reach all of the sights by car. How about finishing the day with Roman inspired wellness in the Schaumberg adventure baths in Tholey?

roman luxury in saarland

A day trip to Saarland to visit the splendid gladiator mosaics at Nennig Roman villa, the impressive reconstructed Roman villa in Borg Roman Villa Archaeological Park, Pachten Museum with the Roman park, and on to Sudelfels temple and spring or the Emilianusstollen (visits only possible when a special guided tour is booked).

excursion to roman villages

Any Roman traveller who was on the road found everything they needed in Roman roadside settlements (vicus): stables, accommodation, workshops and temples. In Schwarzenacker Roman Museum in Homburg we view a reconstructed vicus and then travel on to the European Culture Park Bleisbruck-Reinheim, where there is not only a Roman settlement, but also the reconstructed grave of the Princess of Reinheim. From May to October we can stop to eat here. Afterwards the trip carries on to Saarbrücken to the Museum for Pre- and Protohistory, where priceless finds are on display.

Tips tour by car➔

w e A r e h A p p y t o h e l p y o uMosel-Saar, Eifel, Hunsrück, Saarland and Luxembourg Mosel are popular holiday regions and have much to offer. Because we know the region so well we can give you many tips and recom-mendations when you plan your trip. If you want we can even sug-gest your own personal itinerary. Call us, or send us an email with details of what you require. We’ll get straight back to you.

Mosellandtouristik GmbHKordelweg 154470 Bernkastel-KuesTel. +49 (0)6531/97330Fax +49 (0)6531/973333 info@mosellandtouristik.de

Eifel Tourismus GmbHKalvarienbergstraße 154595 PrümTel. +49 (0)6551/96560Fax +49 (0)6551/965696info@eifel.info

Hunsrück-Touristik GmbHGebäude 66355483 Hahn-FlughafenTel. +49 (0)6543/507700Fax +49 (0)6543/507709info@hunsruecktouristik.de

Tourismus Zentrale Saarland GmbHFranz-Josef-Röder-Straße 17 66119 Saarbrücken Tel. +49 (0)681/927200 Fax +49 (0)681/9272040 info@tz-s.de

Office Régional du Tourisme Région Moselle Luxembourgeoise115, route du VinL-5416 EhnenTél. (+352) 26747874Fax (+352) 26747894www.region-moselle.lu

more information on the internet at www.strassen-der-roemer.eu

EUROPEAN UNIONEuropean Agricultural Fund for Rural development: Here Europe is investing in the rural economy.This publication was produced as part of the PAUL development programme with the support of the European Union and the Federal

States Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Nordrhein-Westfalen and the Grand duchy of Luxembourg as represented by the Ministerium für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Ernäh-rung, Weinbau und Forsten Rheinland-Pfalz, the Ministerium für Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft

des Saarlandes, das Ministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Landwirt-schaft, Natur- und Verbraucher-schutz Nordrhein- Westfalen, and the Ministère de l'Agriculture, de la Viticulture et du développement rural of the Grand duchy of Luxem-bourg.